Philippines Ranks 3rd In 2nd Southeast Asian Cup Squash Championship 2016

The Philippines ranks third in the 2nd South East Asian Cup Squash Championship held Jan. 11-17, 2016 in Nay Phi Taw, Myanmar, Squash Rackets Association of the Philippines (SRAP) reported Tuesday.

The Philippines won gold in Women’s Jumbo Doubles, silver in Men’s Jumbo Doubles, Bronze in Women’s Individual and Bronze in Mixed Team Championships, the association said.

In an interview during the Philippine Sportswriter Association (PSA) forum in Malate, Manila on Tuesday, SRAP president Robert Bachmann said that the strength of Philippine team was its speed while its weakness was its stamina.

The national players who competed in Myanmar event were Robert Garcia, David Pelino, MacMac Begornia, Jamyca Aribado and Yvonne Dalida, coached and trained by Jaime Ortua, Edgar Balleber and Jun Paganpan.

Gold medalist Yvonne Dalida in women’s jumbo doubles said “Siguro ang naging key namin to beat other countries ay yung pagiging kumportable namin sa isa’t-isa and pagiging optimistic.”

While her partner Jemyca Aribado said, “It was great feeling, winning the gold medal because we didn’t not expect that much first of all we don’t have a jumbo squash court in the country, so we just played our hearts out and enjoyed the game”

Through these kinds of achievements, Bachmann believes that national players and soon to be players do not need to go abroad to train but to stay here and leave the training to local coaches.

Head coach Jaime Ortua foresees that the national team will excel in the said sport and get more medals not lower than bronze in future competitions.

The new board, including Bachmann, Vince Abad Santos, Joey Mabilangan , Romy Dona and Edgar Balleber plans to make a public court to make it more accessible to young athletes who want to learn how to play squash. It also intends to persuade schools in putting up squash classes in their Physical Education program.(PNA) RMA/MARK ANGELO AGPALZA, DAN MARI E. CABRERA-OJT/PJN