There is a distinct pecking order at the ping-pong table inside Minnesota United’s players lounge at the National Sports Center in Blaine.

But who’s on top depends on who you ask.

Midfielder Miguel Ibarra said he’s the best. Defender Francisco Calvo countered that he’s supreme.

“Miguel is no good,” Calvo retorted. “Miguel is horrible playing ping pong. No, no. We have a lot of good players in ping pong.”

OK, putting aside the pride among pro soccer players, who’s really tops on the team at table tennis?

Besides Calvo and Ibarra, the short list of regular players are: Ibson, Brent Kallman, Kevin Molino, Bashkim Kadrii, Christian Ramirez and Abu Danladi.

Ibarra acknowledged the top tier of players are Ibson, Kallman, Molino and Calvo. The table’s rules are first-come, first-serve and winner remains playing.

When that foursome steps in, they soon run the table. “When Brent and them come, we don’t see the table at all,” Ibarra said.

Calvo also was willing to concede that he’s not preeminent. “I think Ibson is the best,” he offered. “Then Brent. And then me.”

Ibarra concurred the top spot goes to Ibson, a Brazilian midfielder who has provided some dazzling plays on the soccer filed for the Loons during their debut season in Major League Soccer.

Calling on about 40 years of soccer experience, United coach Adrian Heath said earlier this season that Ibson is the “best footballer arguably full stop” that he’s worked with in his career.

So, what makes Ibson so good on the ping-pong table?

“He’s just like he plays soccer,” Ibarra said. “He’s just really good. He knows how to hit the ball. He can mess around and do his no-look (shot) and he still gets it. It’s incredible.”

Bottom line, the ping-pong table and pick-up FIFA soccer video games in the remodeled lounge at the training grounds have helped bring the team together.

“The player lounge is good entertainment for us,” said Calvo, the Loons’ captain. “I think we can have some time in there to hang out with each other and know more (about) each other.”

DANLADI OUT

Minnesota’s Abu Danladi’s red card Wednesday against the Portland Timbers means he will be suspended for Saturday’s match against the Vancouver Whitecaps. The rookie midfielder exchanged kicks with Portland’s Sebastian Blanco in the 71st minute, and both players were sent off.

Fellow midfielder Johan Venegas is the most likely replacement for Danladi, but he was left off the game-day 18-man roster Wednesday. He was scratched before Saturday’s 1-0 loss to Real Salt Lake because of a back injury that sprung up after international duty with the Costa Rican national team last week.

“We are hoping he’s going to be OK,” coach Adrian Heath said. “He feels a lot better (Wednesday), so obviously we’re down to bare bones at this moment in time. We can ill afford more injuries.”

VENEGAS OVER DAVIS

With Marc Burch out for months after sports hernia surgery Tuesday, Heath opted to stick with Kevin Venegas at one of the fullback spots over Justin Davis on Wednesday.

Davis, who started the season as the club’s vice captain, is healthy but remained on Heath’s seven-man bench Wednesday. He has played five MLS games this season.

Venegas started his second consecutive game Wednesday and third overall in MLS this season.

“He’s suddenly growing into playing in the team,” Heath said. “It’s been really difficult for him.”

BRIEFLY

United’s announced attendance of 18,442 was the fourth largest this season at TCF Bank Stadium. … Midfielder Ish Jome suffered an ankle injury Monday and wasn’t available for selection Wednesday.