Table Tennis League: Tesano Spinners take giant step towards title

Accra-based Tesano Spinners took a giant step closer to winning this year’s Stanbic Bank/Graphic Sports Table Tennis League after defeating Immigration 3-2 in the top-of-the-table clash at the D.G. Hathiramani Sports Hall of the Accra sports Stadium last Saturday.

With nine matches left to play, Spinners could maintain their unbeaten run against less fancied opposition for the ultimate prize in both men’s and ladies events.

Spinners’ top player Ahmed Bello defeated national top seed Derek Abrefa lost 3-2 to keep the Tesano side in pole position with 63 points with the Immigration lads in second spot.

Immigration started on a good note with second seed Felix Lartey taking a 2-0 lead against Rilwan Akanbi but the Nigerian star impressively won three straight sets for a 3-2 victory. Bello drew inspiration from his teammate’s win to make light work of third seed Emmanuel Commey with a 3-0 win.

However, the pair of Derek Abrefa and Felix Lartey kept their side’s hope alive with a 3-2 win in the men’s doubles after which Commey restored parity with a 3-2 victory over Spinners’ Jacob Saikum to make the tie 2-2. In the deciding game, Bello showed class to defeat Abrefa in a closely fought game for a deserved victory for the Tesano-based side.

In other matches Team Coach Addo lost 2-3 to Madina Stars, Ghana Army defeated Ashaiman Power Club 3-0, Police Service beat Ashanti Otumfuo Stars 3-1, Eastern Loppers lost 0-3 to the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), Ghana Navy defeated Western Table Tennis Club 3-1, and Ghana National Fire Service overcame Kings Royal Academy (KRA) 3-2.

In the second encounters of the day, Spinners beat Army 3-0, Immigration thrashed Madina Stars 3-0, Police beat Eastern Loopers 3-1 and KRA won 3-1 against Western Table Tennis Club.

Other matches saw Ashaiman Club lose 1-3 to Ashanti Otumfuo Stars, Team Baboo defeated Team Coach Addo 3-1 and GRA won 3-2 against Fire Service.

In the third encounters, Spinners thrashed Otumfuo Stars 3-0, Eastern Loopers beat Ashaiman Club 3-2, Team Baboo won 3-2 against Madina Stars, Immigration defeated Army 3-0, Synergy Club lost 0-3 to Ghana Navy, Fire Service beat Police Service 3-0 and GRA won 3-0 over Western Table Tennis Club.

The women’s division saw Madina Stars thrash Otumfuo Stars 3-0, Team Coach Addo held Ghana Navy 3-3, GRA beat Western Club 3-0 and Immigration Ladies lost 0-3 to the Ghana Police.