Two overseas Filipino workers turned a shared passion for table tennis into a championship moment, capturing gold at the Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi 2026 inside the halls of the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center on Thursday.
John Suico, a former varsity standout from St. Mary’s College in Davao and once a club coach in Dubai, teamed up with fellow OFW David Lo to dominate the men’s doubles 45+ division. The pair swept two Indian teams in emphatic fashion — 3-0 in the semifinals and another 3-0 rout in the finals — to seal a flawless run to the top of the podium at the Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi 2026.
“We’re very happy to win the gold medal. The support of the Filipino community here is overwhelming,” Suico said, crediting the strong backing of kababayans in the UAE.
Their chemistry was evident from the first serve. Suico’s experience and Lo’s renewed hunger blended seamlessly, allowing them to dictate tempo and neutralize their opponents with precision placement and relentless rallies.
But their journey is far from over.
Both players have advanced to the quarterfinals of the men’s singles 45+ division, raising the possibility of an all-Filipino final.
“Tomorrow (Friday), we will also play in the singles quarterfinals. Baka nga kami rin magharap sa finals (We might also face each other in the finals),” Lo joked, glancing at his partner as they burst into laughter.
“Champion na rin sya (David) kagaya ng kanyang anak (He is already a champion now, like his son). So, we’ll see,” Suico responded.
For Lo, the gold medal represents more than athletic success — it marks a deeply personal comeback.
He last played competitively in 1998. But in 2022, when his son Zach picked up the paddle, everything changed.
“Tapos noong gumaling siya maglaro, tinuturuan na rin nya ako. Baligtad na, sya na ang mas magaling (Then when he improved a lot, he began teaching me, too. It is the other way around now, he’s the better one),” Lo shared with a proud smile.
Now 12 years old, Zach has begun making waves in youth competitions, including tournaments in the United States. The father’s dream has shifted from personal medals to national pride.
“Yun talaga pangarap ko sa kanya na makapagdala ng karangalan for our country (That is my ultimate dream – that he would be able to bring our country honor),” Lo said.
The family plans to return to the Philippines in April, where Zach is set to compete in local tournaments — another step toward what his father hopes could be a future stint with the national team.
The Filipino medal haul did not end there.
In the men’s doubles 30+ division, Jeremiah Manalastas and Darryl Padilla secured bronze after a strong campaign against a stacked international field. Manalastas, also based in Abu Dhabi, is not done yet — he will compete in the singles 40+ category, aiming to add more hardware to the Philippine tally despite facing seasoned opponents.
From a comeback story fueled by fatherhood to a doubles partnership forged by shared sacrifice abroad, the victories in Abu Dhabi underscore a broader narrative: Filipinos continue to excel on the global stage — not just as workers overseas, but as athletes, mentors, and dreamers carrying the flag wherever they compete.