Cousins Nike and Gustav Zoleta are showing a lot of promise after ruling the 14U boys’ doubles event of the FIP Promises Manila tournament recently in Pasig City.

Karl Zoleta, the father of Nike and uncle of Gustav, told DAILY TRIBUNE that the Philippine Padel Association (PPA) sees the potential of the young pair from Lucena City as they are already eyeing future overseas tournaments early in their careers.

Padel is a racket sport where players will be competing inside a court with glass walls.

“The association said they will train them to compete in other tournaments abroad.

“They’re being groomed as players for the juniors team,” the elder Zoleta said.

“That’s why the caption in the association’s social media post is that they’re the future.”

Nike, 10, and Gustav, 13, clinched the title after winning all three matches in a single-round robin format.

After sweeping past Amun Alexander Pablico Nawrocky and Lucas Sebastian O. Santos in the first round, 6-0, 6-0, the Zoleta tandem breezed past Sean Gabriel Alcoseba and Raven Licayan, 6-0, 6-0.

Finally, Nike and Gustav prevailed over Xian Anthony Alcoseba and John Rafael Tamayo, 6-1, 6-3, to clinch the title that makes them the future faces of the emerging sport, similar to their aunts in former Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Bien and Bambi Zoleta in soft tennis and pickleball.

To show how serious the PPA is in developing Nike and Gustav, the elder Zoleta said they are already training with foreign coaches to further hone their skills.

“Coach Fredrik Lonnqvist of France trains the boys. They also train under coaches from Argentina, Spain and Sweden,” Zoleta added.

“Thanks to the PPA, they were given good coaches who taught them fast. That’s why they were able to adapt fast.”