The Philippine Soft Tennis National Team entered the final phase of its preparations for the 30th Southeast Asian Games with a stint in the 16th World Soft Tennis Championships in Taizhou, Zheijang Province, China.
Led by Joseph Arcilla, Noel Damian Jr., Bien Zoleta-Mañalac and Princess Catindig, the 11-member soft tennis team has high hopes of playing in the world tournament at a high level due to its athletes’ notable performances in the past.
The Philippines was able to finish in the podium in back-to-back world championships, namely in 2011 with the Bronze Medal in the Men’s Singles by Arcilla, and in 2015 with the third-place feat in the Women’s Singles by Zoleta-Mañalac.
Josephine Paguyo delivered the country’s first bronze in the world tourney’s 1995 edition.
The soft tennis team (six men & five women) in the world championships which conclude on November 1, has entries in the men’s & women’s singles, men’s & women’s doubles, mixed doubles, men’s & women’s team event.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman William “Butch” Ramirez said the agency has given the national sports associations (NSAs) everything within its means, enough to make the NSAs hope for a strong showing in the SEA Games.
“A strong showing is all we’re hoping for. We have identified the medal potentials among them. But we also expect surprises from some others,” Ramirez said.
Soft tennis is making a comeback to the SEA Games after an eight-year absence and its national sports association is hoping of a better result this time around.
With Arcilla and Zoleta-Manalac leading the charge, the Philippines is hoping to surpass its one silver and five bronze medals in Palembang, Indonesia during the 2011 SEA Games, the last time soft tennis was included in the biennial tournament.
Other members of the team are Catindig, Bambi Zoleta, Erdilyn Peralta, Damian Jr., Mark Anthony Alcoseba, Mikoff Manduriao and Dheo Talatayod.
“The Philippine Sports Commission has given our soft tennis players international exposure such as the Korea Cup in Anseong, Taiwan Open, World Cup in China, our test event in Bulacan last month, were the Philippines won five bronze medals despite the presence of powerhouses Japan, Korea and Chinese Taipei with Thailand and Indonesia. So we expect everybody to perform at a high level,” chorused national coaches Divine Escala and Mike Enriquez.
“The target of three medals in three events in the SEAG is very much doable,” the coaches added.
Enriquez and Escala were referring to the bronze medals secured by Catindig and Mark Alcoseba during the recent 1st Asian University Soft Tennis Championships and 1st Asian University Juniors Soft Tennis Championships at the Colegio San Agustin indoor tennis court in San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan last September.
Catindig delivered three when she reached the semifinal of the women’s 21-under category in the Asian Juniors. She was a semifinalist in the women’s singles and led her team to the Final Four in the Asian University.
Alcoseba added two bronzes coming from the men’s singles and team event of the tournament organized by the Asian Soft Tennis Federation and Philippine Soft Tennis Association, headed by its president Col. Jeff Tamayo.
