BY KRISTEL SATUMBAGA
THE Philippine soft tennis team capped its 30th Southeast Asian Games with a bang after winning the men’s team event gold medal on Tuesday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
The Nationals prevailed over Thailand, 3-1, behind the efforts of Noel Damian Jr., Mark Anthony Alcoseba, Joseph Arcilla, Mikoff Manduriao and Dheo Talatayod.
The PH team started slow after Damian and Alcoseba yielded to Sakan Thansiriroj and Thanarit Surarak, 5-3, in the first doubles before Arcilla leveled the match with a 4-1 victory over Kawin Yannarit in the singles.
Manduriao and Talatayod sealed the victory for the Nationals with a 5-3 triumph over Teerapat Sujaritplee and Torlarp Songweera in the deciding doubles.
It was a breakthrough performance for the PH soft netters by going home with three gold and one bronze medal.
Bien Zoleta gave the Nationals its first gold in the sport after ruling women’s singles, and then teamed up with sister Bambi Zoleta for the women’s doubles gold.
