The Philippine national padel team has made a significant mark on the international stage, securing the silver medal in the 1st Asia Pacific Padel Cup. The competition took place at the Amare Padel Club Umalas in Bali, Indonesia, where the Filipinos faced a closely contested 2-3 loss to host nation Indonesia in the final over the weekend.
Despite a strong start in the group stage, where the Philippines had already defeated Indonesia 4-1, the final proved a tougher challenge. Both teams brought their best to the court, but Indonesia managed to edge out the Philippines at the critical moment to claim the gold.
In their path to the finals, the Philippines dominated Malaysia with a 4-0 victory in the semifinals, while Indonesia achieved an identical 4-0 win against India. India ultimately claimed the bronze medal after defeating Malaysia 3-0, while Singapore secured fifth place with a narrow 3-2 victory over Hong Kong.
The Philippine team demonstrated consistent strength throughout the tournament, achieving clean sweeps in the group stage against India, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Singapore, winning all their matches 5-0.
Leading the team was Padel Pilipinas president Senator Pia Cayetano, who played alongside standout players Tao Yee Tan, Princess Jean Naquila, Yam Garsin, Marian Capadocia, and several talented male athletes including Duane and Derrick Santos, Argil Lance Cañizares, Raymark Gulfo, Abdulqoahar Allian, Bryan Saarenas, and Mhar Joseph Serra. The team’s preparation and strategy were guided by coaches Bryan Casao and Jaric Lavelle.
Reflecting on the team’s journey, Senator Pia Cayetano stated, “We aimed for the top spot, but there are valuable lessons we take away from tough losses.”
Looking ahead, Padel Pilipinas is gearing up for more local events, including the Play Padel Open in October, the final event of the Philippine Islands Padel Tour. The year will close with the prestigious Padel Masters in November, featuring the top-ranked players from previous tournaments.
Stay tuned for more updates from The Padel Weekly as the sport continues to grow in the Philippines and beyond.
