IN A hospital ward, there is a man who has just regained consciousness from cardiac arrest. There are nurses around him checking his vital signs and overall condition, making sure that he is alright. Out of the blue, the man suddenly cracks a joke. “Bakit ako na-cardiac arrest? E wala naman akong ki-nardiac. (Why was I in a cardiac arrest? I didn’t jack anyone’s car.)”

This is how Hali Crisostomo, the captain of the Blue Paddlers, fondly remembers his long time mentor, Coach Floyd Lobaton.

The head coach of the Ateneo men’s and women’s table tennis teams and the head of the university’s Table Tennis Program, Coach Floyd was a man well-known and loved for his intense passion for the game of Ping-Pong. He demanded excellence and greatness from each of his players because he too strove for excellence.

Being a former head coach of the women’s table tennis national team, Coach Floyd was very strict with his team. He recognized the talent in each and every one of his players, which is why he would always push them beyond what they perceived their limits to be. There were times when he would flare up when a player failed to execute what he was trying to teach, but he was always quick to ease the tension with a joke.

Coach Floyd simply knew when it was time to be serious and when it was time to crack jokes and fill the room with laughter. There were times when he would even challenge his players to compete in games in which they would be playing for Jollibee.

He was known for not taking days off, and team training would often push through despite harsh weather conditions, so long as the safety of his players would not be compromised. His rigorous training regimen is one of the things his players will never forget about him. The fiery mentor would hold morning practices from 5 AM to 7 AM, followed by another session in the evening from 5 PM to 7 PM.

As firm Coach Floyd was as a coach, he and his players considered themselves family. Rather than a group of individuals bound by their talents in Ping-Pong, he was more like a proud father and they his sons and daughters. Crisostomo shares an instance after the team’s competition when Coach Floyd burst into tears because of how proud he was of the team’s success, regardless of their standing in the tournament.

But amidst all the good times they were having, the unexpected occurred. In what was an ordinary Season 76 training session, Coach Floyd suddenly collapsed; he had had a stroke. Further tests revealed that the Blue Paddlers’ mentor had a tumor that had developed into lung cancer. He recuperated in his hometown of Bacolod, but subsequent cardiac arrests resulted in his passing on August 6, 2013.

In his final days, Coach Floyd thought a great deal about wanting to return and cheer his players on. According to Crisostomo, their mentor spoke of in particular about wanting to be with the table tennis team as they competed in this season of the University Athletic Association of the Philippines.

He told his players to stay focused on the game and not be affected by his illness. Even during his most vulnerable moments, Coach Floyd still found a way to think of his players’ needs first before his own. He laid the groundwork for his team’s future, finding a competent replacement for himself in Coach Rodel Valle.

His eagerness to return didn’t come as much of a surprise to the team; Allyssa Balanzat, the Lady Paddlers’ team captain, remembers their beloved mentor as someone who was passionate and devoted to the team and to the sport, no matter what. She recalls that he never gave up on the team and never looked for someplace else to take his talents when things weren’t going as planned. Instead, he stayed and remained faithful to his players.

His dedication and sacrifice not only for the game but also for his squad will always remain in the hearts and minds of the Blue and Lady Paddlers.

With the dawn of a new era for the university’s table tennis program, the Blue and Lady Paddlers will not only be fighting to represent the Blue and White, but also for their mentor, friend and father figure, Coach Floyd Lobaton.