The Soft Tennis Pilipinas team won a historic gold medal in the mixed team event of the 9th Asian Soft Tennis Championship in Mungyeong, South Korea, Monday, Sept. 22.
University Perpetual University standout Joseph Arcilla and Samuel Nuguit won in the men’s doubles 4-1 while Bien Zoleta and Princess Catindig also triumphed in the women’s doubles 4-1 as the Philippines clinched the best-of-three tie against China, 2-0, at the Mungyeong International Soft Tennis Stadium.
With the convincing victory of the Arcilla-Nuguit and Zoleta-Catindig tandems, the duo of Patrick Mendoza and Christy Sañosa did not even have to play anymore to claim the championship
It was big win for the soft tennis team as the win serves as a qualifier to the 2026 Asian Games in Nagoya, Japan.
“I congratulate our players who brought home the country’s first gold medal in the Asian Level tournament. The hard work of training is worth it.” Lt. Colonel Bobby Moran, PSTA President said.
The Philippines clobbered Cambodia (2-0) in the quarterfinals and India (2-0) in the semifinals matches.
Before heading to Mungyeong, the Philippine National Soft Tennis Tea attended a training camp from Aug. 24 to Sept. 13 in Sunchang, Korea together with team mates Sherwin Nuguit, Adjuthor Moralde II, Jason Caminting, Shyryn Salazar, Bea Ebriega, Airies Nuguit and accompanied by head coach Michael John Enriquez and assistant coaches Josephine Paguyo, Wenifredo De Leon Jr. and Mark Anthony Alcoseba.
