Francis Garganian: Heir to the paddle

Sports can serve as a family activity for many people as it fosters camaraderie and sportsmanship among the members of the family. It is not uncommon to hear of families that are inclined into a certain sport, such as the Tengs to basketball and the Younghusbands to football. For Francis and the Garganian family, table tennis serves as the kin sport which they passionately play. The younger brother of veteran Green Paddler Edmund Garganian, Francis looks to make a name for himself in the upcoming UAAP season. 

Francis began his table tennis career when he was in third grade. Under the encouragement of his father, also a table tennis player, he took up the sport and started taking it seriously. He would then rack up awards one after another in his hometown of Bacolod and in national leagues. His talent would not go unnoticed as table tennis clubs would employ his services for local and international tournaments, one such tournament would bring him to Hong Kong. Garganian would eventually earn a place with the junior national selection squad that represented the Philippines in a Brunei tournament. After wrapping up his high school career in Bacolod City National High School, the 16-year-old table tennis sensation would then join his brother Edmund in DLSU where he plans to aid in the Green Paddlers’ quest for a back to back championship. 

When asked who pushes him to do his best, the younger Garganian never fails to mention his family in his list of motivators and inspirations. “It’s my brother and father who push me to do my best since they are always there for me, training me and motivating me,” he said. Playing Edmund almost pushes Francis to exert full effort when practicing. He admits that his brother still has the advantage over him in their head-to-head match ups, but he uses this as a motivation to play even harder.

On playing for DLSU, the Bacolod native says that it is a really great opportunity and a blessing for him.  “I think it’s a big privilege for me to play in La Salle, and it is an honor for me to wear a La Salle jersey for the upcoming UAAP season,” he said. Going to the Taft-based institution also gives him the opportunity to play for his dream school, not to mention forming a sibling tandem with Edmund is something he is looking forward to.

For his college career, the young paddler has several goals in sight that he plans to achieve before he graduates from University, not of all which are related to table tennis. “I think I want to be in the dean’s list, and I’ll try to snatch the championship [for La Salle] in UAAP Season 77,” said Francis, who is a first year Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering student. 

Aside from table tennis, the rookie paddler also enjoys playing other physical activities such as running and basketball, which keeps him in good physical condition. He also enjoys solving math problems in his free time, which he attributes as to why he ended up taking an engineering degree for college. 

Watch out for Francis Garganian and the Green Paddlers in the upcoming UAAP season. With his addition to the squad’s already talented roster, it would come as no surprise if they once again contend for the title, and achieve a coveted back to back championship for La Salle. While opposition may have gotten tougher, hopes are high for Francis to conquer the big stage and help the Green Paddlers towards a first place finish.