The groundbreaking athleticism of 23-year old table tennis star Ian Lariba will never be forgotten
Lead photo by Tristan Tamayo/Inquirer.net
After a year-long battle with acute myeloid leukemia, table tennis player Ian Lariba passed away late Sunday night. She was 23.
Hailed as one of De La Salle University’s greatest athletes, Lariba’s college days saw her clinching three UAAP MVP awards for table tennis as well as two Athlete of the Year awards. She was undefeated in her five-year UAAP stint.
But perhaps Lariba is best known for making sports history about two years ago after being the first Filipina table tennis player to qualify for the 2016 Rio Olympics. She was also the country’s flag-bearer for the continental showpiece. Reactions and tributes from fans and sports publications and communities have been pouring in since Lariba’s heartbreaking demise:
Filipino Olympian Ian Lariba passes away at 23 | @BLozadaINQ https://t.co/oKjc7NFzuo
— INQUIRER Sports (@INQUIRERSports) September 3, 2018
With great sadness we announce the passing of the history breaking Philippines Table Tennis player Ian Lariba. Her amazing smile and talent on the table will forever be in our hearts. #RestInPeaceIan 🏓 🇵🇭 💖 pic.twitter.com/UHNZY5q6Of
— World Table Tennis (@WTTGlobal) September 2, 2018
https://twitter.com/sportsdeskph/status/1036473715284799490
📣 Let us include Ian Lariba and her family in our prayers.
The greatness of Ian Lariba as an athlete:
– S74 ROY
– S75, S77, and S78 MVP
– S77 and S78 Athlete of the Year
– Did not lose a single match for 5 years in UAAP
– First Filipina table tennis olympianThank you, YanYan. pic.twitter.com/1YfzCTmqFI
— UAAP Confessions (@UAAPconfessions) September 3, 2018
A graduate of BS in Management of Financial Institutions, Ian Lariba consistently brought pride to the University in the five years that she had played for the DLSU Lady Paddlers, winning Rookie… https://t.co/oEFbNgv6D1
— DLSU (@DLSUManila) September 2, 2018
Rest In Peace, Yan 😓 thank you for showing us true passion in sport and in life! 🙏🏼 https://t.co/zPXTzGypjv
— TJ Manotoc (@tjmanotoc) September 2, 2018
DLSU Sports has released the official hashtag for UAAP Season 81, which is in honor of Lariban’s outstanding contribution to Philippine sports:
We offer UAAP Season 81 for you, Yan.
The official hashtag for this year: #4LaSalleYAN— DLSU Sports (@dlsusports) September 3, 2018
#4LaSalleYAN https://t.co/q87NFPM1tQ
— Raven Cortez (@ravencortez6) September 3, 2018
RIP Yan Lariba #4LaSalleYan
— munimunings (@munimunings) September 3, 2018
#4LaSalleYAN 💚🏹 https://t.co/ImKhQWGpiR
— Gian Franco (@_gianfranc0) September 3, 2018
Her fellow athletes have also mourned and honored Lariban’s legacy:
Noooo….💔😭
— Kim Fajardo (@kimfajardo9) September 2, 2018
Rest In Peace, Idol @supersaiYAAAN. You showed you were a fighter. You’re an inspiration to Filipino athletes like me. Your legacy will live on forever. 🙏🏼 https://t.co/UqO1SvogqI
— Jeron Teng (@jeronteng) September 3, 2018
😭😭😭 ate yanyan 🙏🏻
— Ricci Rivero (@_ricciiirivero) September 2, 2018
My heart 💔 will treasure the memories we shared Yan for sure. ♥️🤗 Inspirasyon ka ng maraming atletang Filipino, sobrang palaban mo. https://t.co/8uifIwnbkF
— 𝚃𝚢𝚊𝚗𝚐 𝙰𝚋𝚢 🌻 (@Abymarano) September 3, 2018
Gone too soon. We lost a treasure. Fought til’ the end. Had a lot of potential and wouldnt be surprised if she brought home a gold medal together with other femal athletes. 🙏🏽😪 https://t.co/ayrk86Kokw
— Kiefer Ravena (@kieferravena) September 2, 2018
😭😭😭😭😭😭 Rest in peace, Yan. https://t.co/ifv8WRtYkj
— Gretchen Ho (@gretchenho) September 2, 2018
DLSU Green Archers team captain Kib Montalbo—who, about a year ago, auctioned off a pair of his own game-worn shoes to raise funds for Lariba’s medical treatment—extended his condolences to Lariba’s family through an interview:
“We actually prayed for her a while ago. Bago mag-start ‘yung training, siyempre she is a big part of us kasi she is a legend. Sinasabi nga namin ni coach na ‘yun pa ba ‘yung mga tao na walang ginagawang mali, she’s really a good person, you can’t really tell time. If your time’s up, it’s up.”
We send our deepest condolences to Lariba’s family.