The inaugural season of the Paddle Palace Club Minor League Table Tennis in Portland is in the books. Over five action-packed weeks, six teams battled it out in singles, doubles, and golden games. What started as a grassroots idea turned into a competitive, community-driven league filled with thrilling matchups and emerging stars.
Final Standings – Season 1
- Storm Strikers – 164 points
- Squatch Smashers – 162 points
- Tigard Tigers – 134 points
- Laughing Dragons – 104 points
- Timber Choppers – 100 points
- PDX Minutemen – 85 points
Week 5 Highlights
Storm Strikers closed out the season on top. Depth across the roster and timely wins from players like Landry Moilimbi and Igor Briker helped them secure a crucial victory over the Tigard Tigers in the final round.
Squatch Smashers finished just two points shy of first place, fueled by standout performances from Michael Groom, David Stout, and Reza Hantehzadeh. Their strength in both singles and golden games kept them in contention all season.
Timber Choppers delivered their best performance of the year in Week 5, dominating the PDX Minutemen 20–5. With Sean O’Neill sidelined due to injury, the Minutemen couldn’t find rhythm, while the Choppers capitalized with strong doubles and consistent play across the board.
PDX Minutemen, though finishing last, showed glimpses of promise earlier in the season. Jay Crystal and Tom Lackaff led the charge, but Week 5’s blowout loss underscored their reliance on a full roster. They’ll regroup for the 5th-place playoff.
Laughing Dragons stayed steady in 4th. With contributions from Ayllon Giladi, Jonathan Mann, Imrul Kayes, and Nitya Shah, they proved capable of upsetting higher-ranked teams and will be ones to watch in Season 2.
Playoff Weekend Preview
This weekend features playoff matchups based on final standings:
- Championship Match: Storm Strikers vs. Squatch Smashers
- Third Place Match: Tigard Tigers vs. Laughing Dragons
- Fifth Place Match: Timber Choppers vs. PDX Minutemen
(This match will debut the 2025–2026 MLTT Doubles Serving Rules)
What Makes This League Unique
While MiLTT Portland delivered great matches, what truly sets it apart is the spirit of innovation and community leadership:
- Dedicated Team Captains: Each team had a designated captain responsible for strategy, lineups, and team morale — a first for any minor league in MLTT. Their leadership was essential in building camaraderie and competition.
- Custom Team Identities: Every team sported a custom name and logo, proudly displayed on their team shirts — bringing a professional feel and pride of ownership to the league.
- Volunteer Scorekeepers: A team of volunteers served as live scorekeepers on each table during league play, ensuring smooth match flow and accurate results. No other MLTT league offers this level of real-time officiating support.
- Trophies and Awards: After the playoffs, the top three teams will receive engraved trophies — including a large team cup that remains at Paddle Palace with team names etched each season. Every winning player also receives a smaller personalized trophy. Additional awards include:
- Most Valuable Player
- Most Valuable Team Captain
- Award Dinner Celebration: MiLTT Portland is the only league to host an award dinner after the finals, featuring Thai food and a lively team table tennis trivia competition with fun prizes.
- Prep Videos Before Each Meet: Created by Sarit Roy, short and entertaining prep videos were played before every round, adding anticipation and team identity to the match atmosphere.
Clip 1 | Clip 2 | Clip 3
Watch the Week 5 Action
Catch full replays of last weekend’s matches here:
Closing Thoughts
Season 1 of the MiLTT Portland Minor League delivered on every level: competitive matches, dramatic golden games, and strong community engagement. Whether you were a player, captain, volunteer, or fan — thank you for making this launch a success.
Stay tuned for full playoff results and updates on Season 2.
