Phl soft tennis squad passes test

The Philippine national soft tennis team believes it is ready for the Mungyeong Asian Soft Tennis Championships in South Korea this September after an impressive showing in the Poland Cup over the weekend.

National team coach Michael Enriquez told DAILY TRIBUNE the purpose of joining the Poland Cup was to test their readiness for the Asian tilt.

Based on what he saw, the players are indeed ready.

The Philippines collected one gold, four silvers, and three bronze medals in the eight-nation tournament that drew the participation of Japan, India, South Korea, Poland, Czech Republic, Sweden and Slovakia.

“As I told them, this is our first tournament. The next one will be the Asian Championships. This is where you will gauge your training,” said Enriquez, who won the men’s 40+ doubles with Wenifredo De Leon.

“This is where you will know what you have developed, what you have improved and what you are lacking. So this is it.”

Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Princess Catindig clinched two silver medals in the women’s singles and in the women’s doubles when she teamed up with Bien Zoleta.

Catindig also got a bronze medal in the mixed doubles when she joined forces with Sherwin Nuguit.

Another SEA Games champion in Joseph Arcilla also pocketed two medals in the Polish tilt, getting the silver in the men’s doubles with Patrick Mendoza and a bronze medal in the men’s singles while Airies Tanawan also got a bronze in the women’s singles.

Nuguit bagged another bronze when he teamed up with Adjuthor Moralde II in the men’s doubles while Airies Tanawan got another bronze for the Philippines in the women’s singles.

After getting some much-needed exposure in competition, Enrique said they will polish their skills when they go to Sunchang, South Korea from 24 August to 12 September for a training camp.

“It's more of a good mindset while getting closer and closer to the Asian Championships. We won't let fitness go to waste. We just need to train a little bit more for the Asian Championships,” Enriquez said.