Back-to-back UAAP table tennis Most Valuable Player and first-time Olympian Ian Lariba makes history tomorrow in two ways as the Games of the XXXI Olympiad commences in Rio de Janiero, Brazil, Saturday morning here in the Philippines.
Lariba will lead the 13 Filipino athletes, along with some officials, as the country’s flag bearer in the Parade of Nations in the Opening Ceremony to be held at the iconic Maracana Stadium in the Brazilian city at 7:00am Philippine time.
The Organizing Committee promised an opening show that is “very Brazilian.” Furthermore, the creative team behind the spectacle have also promised “to deliver a message for planet earth.”
Almost 9 hours after the conclusion of the ceremony, Lariba will then begin Team Philippines’ campaign as she is set to battle Chinese-born Republic of Congo player Han Xing in the preliminary round of the women’s singles event.
