PH Soft Netters secure first Asiad medal for Team Philippines

NAGOYA -- Bien Zoleta is urging her fellow Filipino athletes to make the most of their Asian Games moment after the Philippine women’s soft tennis team ended the country’s medal drought in the sport.

The Filipinas officially secured the bronze medal after falling 2-0 to host Japan in the semifinals on Sunday.

Princess Catindig and Noelle Mañalac dropped the opening match to Japan’s Rena Temma and Kiho Miyamae, while Christy Sanosa fell to Ayaka Iwakura as the host squad advanced to the finals.

Despite the semifinal defeat, Zoleta said the team’s historic podium finish should serve as motivation for the rest of Team Philippines.

“Alam kong excited sila kasi pinaghirapan nila ’to sa araw-araw na training. “So, mga kapwa national athlete, mga classmate ko sa gym, so good luck! Alam kong kaya natin ’to. Kaya n’yo ’yan. Alam n’yo, pinaghihirapan, at ito na ’yung magbubunga. Kukunin n’yo na lang kung anong color para sa inyo.

“Good luck, Team Philippines! Laban!m” said the emotional soft netter.

The Philippines reached the semifinals after beating Mongolia, 3-0, and Thailand, 2-1, in the group stage before suffering a 3-0 loss to Chinese Taipei. The bronze marks the first-ever Asian Games medal for Philippine soft tennis, more than three decades after the sport made its continental debut.

Meanwhile, Philippine Sports Commission Chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio is also hopeful that the country can build on the early breakthrough and surpass its previous Asian Games medal haul.

“We can only hope for the best. Kaya po ’yan. Napakalaki ng puso ng atletang Filipino, at nandiyan ang 115 million Filipinos to support them,” stressed Gregorio.

With soft tennis already on the medal board, Zoleta and Gregorio are now looking ahead to the rest of Team Philippines’ campaign in Aichi-Nagoya.