Soft tennis produced a bronze medal--the Philippines first--while two bets from mixed martial arts (MMA) were also guaranteed the same color on Sunday as the country formally kicked off its quest in the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya.

The quintet of team captain Bien Zoleta, Princess Catindig, Christy Sañosa, Shyryn Salazar and Hilary Paas had to settle for the bronze after falling to defending champion Japan, 0-2, in the semifinals at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center.

Zoleta and Catindig opened the tie but were overpowered by Japan’s Rena Temma and Kiho Miyamae, 5-0.

Sañosa then fought back after finding her rhythm in the second and third games, but Ayaka Iwakura eventually completed Japan’s 4-0 victory to send the hosts to the gold medal match.

Despite the loss, Zoleta said the bronze was a historic achievement for Philippine soft tennis.

“We are overjoyed because this is a truly historic win for Philippine soft tennis. It’s our first podium finish since 1994. We are so happy to have won a medal for the country,” Zoleta said.

“This (medal) is what we’ve dreamed of in soft tennis. This is our Olympics, so winning a medal here means so much to us.”

Zoleta, who has competed in the Asian Games since the 2010 Guangzhou edition, also said the early medal eased the pressure on the Philippine delegation.

“For me, the pressure of being one of the opening sports to play in the Asian Games, it’s like I’m breathing (a sigh of relief) because in our first event, we were able to win a medal,” Zoleta told DAILY TRIBUNE in a phone conversation.

The Philippines will have more opportunities to add to its medal haul Monday.

At the Nagoya City Inae Stadium, Jean Claude Saclag and Carlos Alvarez secured at least two more bronze medals after advancing to the semifinals of their respective traditional MMA divisions.

Saclag booked his spot in the men’s traditional -65kg semifinals after blanking Saudi Arabia’s Saud Fawaz Alholem via unanimous decision, 3-0.

The 2014 Incheon Asian Games silver medalist in wushu will face Japan’s Daisuke Murayama Monday at 11:20 a.m.

Alvarez, meanwhile, advanced in the men’s traditional -77kg division after stopping Indonesia’s Ananda Wahyu Setyo in the quarterfinals.

The 27-year-old Filipino will face Kazakhstan’s Yerkingali Burkutalin in the semifinals at 11:50 a.m.

Double Paris Olympics gold medalist Carlos Yulo will also begin his campaign at 9 a.m. in the men’s artistic gymnastics at the Rainbow Hall of the Nagoya City General Gymnasium.

Gilas Pilipinas will likewise open its campaign in the men’s 3x3 basketball tournament at 11:50 a.m. at the Kinjo Futo Station Square Venue.

In wushu, six-time Southeast Asian Games champion Agatha Wong fell short of a podium finish in the women’s Taijiquan and Taijijian events.

In swimming, the women’s 4x100 relay led by Tokyo Olympics medalist Kayla Sanchez suffered a disqualification in the final.