Netters make stunning finish

PHNOM PENH—The Philippine soft tennis team made a surprise return to the Southeast Asian Games by collecting three gold, one silver and a bronze medal in the 32nd edition of the biennial meet here.

Bien Zoleta Mañalac, who nearly quit the sport due to an ACL injury a few years back, anchored the squad with two gold medals – teaming up with Princess Catindig for the women's doubles gold and in the women's team event with sister Bambi Zoleta, Christy Sañosa, Fatima Amirul, Virvienica Bejosano and Catindig.

Providing the other gold was veteran Joseph Arcilla in the men's singles.

The lone silver came from Zoleta in the women's singles, while the men's team of Arcilla, Mark Anthony Alcoseba, George Mendoza, Sherwin Nuguit and Adjuthor Moralde accounted for the men's team bronze.

The team matched their gold-medal output in the 2019 edition in Manila and surpassed their 2011 Palembang haul of one silver and five bronzes.

The sport was not played in last year's games in Vietnam.