3 days of competing on stage with Southeast Asia’s best baristas
2 teams under
1 Philippine flag
After winning in the eliminations, semi-finals, and faced off again at the national finals, they garnered the highest scores from the judges.
Team Tablo (Champion from Luzon) and Team Davao’s Finest (1st Runner-Up from Mindanao) will represent the country at this year’s ASEAN Barista Team Championship. The competition will take place in Bangkok, Thailand from March 5-7, 2025.
The Ultimate Coffee Guide interviews the Philippine delegates as they prepare for yet another challenge that will test their speed, accuracy, and accuracy.
TEAM TABLO
These four young baristas work at different branches under one brand: Tablo. Jaypee Rivera is in charge of operations, training, and R&D. LA Lopez is at Tablo Bistro, Christian Cia is at Tablo 2, while Daniel Tambong is at Matzu or Tablo 1. But whether they work in Paraňaque, Las Pinas, or Quezon City for Tablo 1 to 6, Tablo Bistro, and Vinta, Team Tablo has always been the team to beat since 2023.
Q: This is your third year of winning. What drives you to keep bringing home the bacon?
A: The drive comes from a mix of passion, growth, and the desire to challenge ourselves. Winning for three years straight is not just about the trophy and the recognition. It’s about the process of continuing to push the limits, refining the skills, and learning from each experience. Every victory reminds us of how far we have come and motivates us to reach even higher. Plus, there’s something incredibly satisfying about setting a goal and consistently achieving it, knowing that the effort and commitment have paid off. The drive to keep bringing home the bacon comes from that hunger for progress and the thrill of seeing what’s possible with relentless dedication.
Q: How did you prepare for the eliminations? How about the finals?
A: Preparing for the eliminations and finals has always been a journey of focus and intentional effort. As for the finals, it’s a whole different level. The pressure is higher, so our preparation shifts to managing that pressure. In addition to refining the technical aspects, we worked on staying calm under pressure. We made sure to take time for recovery and mental resets, ensuring that we are not just physically prepared but also in the right mindset to handle whatever came our way. It’s about keeping our confidence up and trusting all the work we put in leading up to that moment. We would constantly remind ourselves of our goals and focus on the things we control, whether it was staying
focused, managing our time, or maintaining our energy levels.
Q: What were the challenges you had during the practice/competition and how did your team overcome it?
A: (Jhaypee) There were definitely some challenges that tested us individually and as a team. One of the biggest hurdles was maintaining consistent performance, especially when things didn’t go as planned. There were moments when I felt like I wasn’t progressing as quickly as I hoped, or when the pressure started to take toll on my focus. The team faced similar struggles, like coordinating smoothly under stress or adapting to unexpected changed in the competition set-up.
What really helped us overcome these challenges was communication and adaptability. We made sure to keep talking openly, sharing what each of us was struggling with and offering support. We also learned to stay flexible in our approach. If something didn’t work in practice, we didn’t dwell on it. Instead, we’d regroup, analyze what went wrong, and adjust our strategy. In the competition, staying calm under pressure was key. We would remind each other to focus on the task at hand and trust the process. There were moments when it felt like everything was on the line, but our ability to work together, adapt quickly, and keep pushing forward made all the difference. Team spirit really became
our secret weapon to overcome any obstacle that came our way.
Q: What did you learn from the finals that is helping you prepare for the regional competition?
A: From the finals, we learned the importance of self-assessment and continuous improvement, which is now shaping our preparation for the competition. As Team Tablo Philippines, we make it a habit to review our performance on stage, analyzing every detail to identify what worked well and what needs refinement. This process helps us sharpen our skills and elevate our execution.
During practice, we don’t just go through the motions, we simulate real competition scenarios, ensuring that every moment, decision, and action becomes second nature. More importantly, we embrace accountability and responsibility, knowing that the discipline we build in practice will define our performance on stage. We believe that excellence is not just a one-time effort but a habit. And that mindset is what drives us forward as we prepare for the regional competition.
Q: How did your team change (personally and professionally) after winning?
A: After winning, our team experienced significant growth both personally and professionally. Personally, the victory transformed us, boosting our confidence in our individual skills and the roles we play within the team. It reinforced our belief in hard work and dedication, encouraging us to step outside our comfort zones. We became more open to sharing knowledge, supporting one another, and striving for even greater achievements. Most importantly, we learned to trust not only ourselves but also our teammates, realizing that success is built only on unity, collaboration, and support.
Professionally, winning opened doors we never imagined. It connected us with key figures in the coffee industry, giving us new opportunities to learn, grow, and refine our craft. More than just a title, this achievement served as a reminder that losing is not the end but rather a stepping stone toward mastery. It fueled our drive to improve, not just as competitors but as individuals committed to excellence. We also embraced the responsibility of sharing our knowledge with those who look up to us, inspiring others to pursue their own journeys. Most importantly, this experience taught us that belief, faith, trust, support, and discipline are the true ingredients for success. Winning wasn’t just
about competition. It was about becoming better as a team and as individuals.
TEAM DAVAO’S FINEST
In Matina and in Puan, four talented baristas from Davao formed a group to represent Mindanao in Joefel Manlod, Rovie Kristel Jabines, Joenar Bryan Ponce, and Wendil Orio Sollano comprise Team Davao’s Finest.
Q: Why did you choose the name Team Davao’s Finest?
A: We want to be a catalyst of coffee professionals to represent the thriving coffee community in Davao. We’re a coffee community with deeper history of camaraderie, brand respect, and economic engagement. We want to honor the name of the city by showcasing what we love to do and elevating the coffee standards in the city. Davao’s Finest does not only represent our individual skills but also collectively as an engaging community.
Q: How did you prepare for the eliminations? How about the finals?
A: We do lots of brainstorming and practice to be able to work smoothly as a team. During the finals, we re-structured our key roles to fill the void or weaknesses that we encountered during the local regional qualifiers.
Q: What were the challenges that you had during the practice/competition and how did your team overcome it?
A: This is the beauty of this competition. It is so unique yet it is so functional which is relatively the set-up of fast-paced cafes. Our team is composed of different individuals working in different cafe brands so schedule for practice is really tough to manage. The financial side also because we have to fly in and out of Cebu and Manila as well as the accommodation.
Q: What did you learn from the finals that is helping you prepare for the regional competition?
A: Competing with seasoned teams gives us better room for understanding like where to score points, proper communications, and most importantly by being critical because we’re following the details required by the given menu.
Q: How did your team change (personally and professionally) after winning?
A: Win or lose, the biggest and most mature thing to do is to embrace the mistakes done during the competition. It’s easier and faster to move forward as a team.
