Two Dubai-based overseas Filipino workers (OFWs) delivered a strong showing for the Philippines after winning the gold medal in the men’s doubles table tennis event at the Open Masters Games Abu Dhabi 2026 (OMGAD).
According to a report by the Philippine News Agency (PNA), John Suico and David Lo topped the men’s doubles 45+ category during the competition held Thursday at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Center.
The Filipino duo secured their championship run by sweeping two Indian teams in both the semifinals and finals, winning 3-0 in each match to claim the top podium finish.
“We’re very happy to win the gold medal. The support of the Filipino community here is overwhelming,” Suico, a former varsity player of St. Mary’s College in Davao and a former coach of a table tennis club in Dubai, said in an interview with the Philippine News Agency.
Suico and Lo also advanced in the men’s singles 45+ division, reaching the quarterfinal stage of the tournament.
“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 said, as he looked at his partner and both 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.
Lo shared that he last played table tennis in 1998, but returned to the sport after his son Zach took interest in it in 2022, eventually motivating him to train again.
“Tapos noong gumaling siya maglaro, tinuturuan na rin nya ako. Baligtad na, sya na ang mas magaling (Then when he [Zach] improved a lot, he began teaching me, too. It is the other way around now, he’s the better one),” David said.
He added that his 12-year-old son has since been joining tournaments and winning championships, including competitions held in the United States.
“This coming April, uuwi kami sa Pilipinas. Papasalihin ko anak ko sa mga tournaments doon (This coming April, we will return to the Philippines. I will ask him to participate in tournaments),” he said.
