Late Olympian Ian Lariba hailed as national treasure

Family and friends of the late Ian Lariba, the first and only Filipino Olympian in table tennis, are mourning her death, describing her as the national treasure.

“She is the national treasure of our sport. Kaya sobrang nagdadalamhati kami,” Ting Ledesma, President of the Philippine Table Tennis Federation, said in a report by James Agustin on Unang Balita.

Lariba died on Sunday night after more than a year-long fight with leukemia. She was 23.

Lariba's mother, Imelda, also recalled her fond memories with her daughter who she said was a fighter to the end.

“Si Yan masunurin, mabait, humble na anak. Grade 2 pa lang, nakitaan na siya ng potential. Doon na siguro siya destined to play. Left-handed kasi siya. Maliit pa lang siya, nakita na talent niya sa table tennis,” Mrs. Lariba said.

“Hindi siya sumusuko. 'Yung determination niya, andun. Sabi niya Mama, hindi talaga ako susuko kahit lagi akong natatalo,” she added.

But defeat was indeed rare for Lariba, as she finished her five-year UAAP career as a table tennis player for De La Salle University undefeated in singles matches. Lariba went on to win the UAAP MVP plum in 2012, 2014 and 2015, on top of steering La Salle to three UAAP championships in her MVP years.

Lariba was also crowned UAAP Athlete of the Year in 2015.

Prior to her groundbreaking Olympic stint in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Lariba also donned national colors for the Philippines in the 2013 and 2015 Southeast Asian Games.

Lariba was diagnosed with leukemia in May 2017, and her family and friends have been raising funds for her treatment since then.

Lariba's mother expressed thanks to all those who fought with her daughter for the past year.

“Lahat kayo, alam niyo kung sino kayo, thank you very much, sa tulong at prayers and binigay niyo Yanyan,” she added. —Llanesca T. Panti/JST, GMA News