Not withstanding the issues hounding the association, tennis chief Atty. Antonio Cablitas is keen on forming a competitive national team for next year’s 30th Southeast Asian Games.
“We will have a competitive team for the SEA Games because I intend our players to undergo intensive training overseas beginning January to countries such as China and South Korea,” the Philippine Tennis Association president said yesterday during the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the Tapa King branch in Cubao, Quezon City.
“We want our players in Asian countries where they will be up against strong opponents for 11 months so they will be ready to face our regional rivals like Thailand,” Cablitas stressed.
Accompanying Cablitas to the session supported by the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp. and San Miguel were PHILTA secretary general Romy Magat and training director Martin Misa, who said that former age group sensation Alberto Lim Jr. had already begun training for the SEA Games.
Also being eyed for the SEA Games buildup are Jeson Patromboon, Francis Casey Alcantara, Jurenz Mendoza for the men and Marian Jade Capadoccia and Clarice Patrimonio for the women, he said.
Misa, however, said he was not ruling Filipino-Americans Richard Gonzales Huey in joining the national squad for the SEA Games “because the door is always open for them to compete for our country, especially since we are hosting the event.”
Cablitas bared that he has tapped veteran non-playing Davis Cup team captain Chris Cuarto to be the competition manager for the SEAG tennis tournament.
The PHILTA chief also took the occasion in announcing the country’s hosting of the Asian Tennis Federation general assembly meeting that will be held from Nov. 30 to Dec. 1 at the Manila Peninsula Hotel in Makati.
Representatives of some 40 member ATF countries from all over continent are expected to attend the three–day affair presided by ATF president Anil Khanna of India, according to Cablitas.
“Some key developments in Asian tennis, including grassroots sports, will be tackled during the meeting,” he said. “The main the of the meeting will be about unity and cohesiveness as we advance the sport in our continent.”
As for those questioning his legitimacy as PHILTA president, Cablitas said that he intends to take the matter to the International Tennis Federation board for resolution.