BEACH TENNIS. Winners and runners-up of the Beach Tennis Love Boracay pose after the awarding ceremony on April 30, 2023. The two-day tournament, organized by the Boracay Racquet Sports Club PH, was held in front of the White House Resort. (Contributed photo)
MANILA – The Boracay Racquet Sports Club PH is out to hold another tournament following the successful Beach Tennis Love Boracay event last week.
"Yes, we are holding another big tournament. We can call it October Sports Festival," club secretary Theo Bernales Dy said in an interview on Friday.
The Beach Tennis Love Boracay, held from April 29 to 30 in front of the White House Resort, is sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA) headed by Parañaque Mayor Eric Olivarez.
"At first, it felt like a huge challenge to pull off a grand sports event in the island in less than a month of preparation but with the help of our chairman emeritus Bong Tirol of Boracay Racquet Sports Club PH, our LGU [local government unit] of Malay, all inter-agencies, SB Datu Yap, Department of Tourism, sponsors and most importantly our Mayor Frolibar Baustista, we made it happen. The two-day tournament was filled with excitement, fun, competitive spirit and sportsmanship. We are very thankful and happy with the turnout as we have players from other regions," said Dy, who served as tournament director.
Carl Anthony Reyes and Jeff Dokko outplayed Dy and Pep Mayor, 6-4, 7-5, to pocket the men's doubles title while Trisha Tirol-Ang and Ada Yu defeated Hazel Gomez and Joy Zolina in the women's doubles finals, 6-1, 6-3.
San Beda College coach Davis Alano and Maggie Tirol claimed victory in the mixed doubles category after posting a 6-2, 6-2 win over Remond Ordas and Tirol-Ang.
“The teams were on a very high caliber for this tournament, there was no sure winner. Everybody showed up, challenging every point. Our opponent in the finals were both tennis players accustomed to the beach, we were the clear underdogs coming in. I guess it boiled down to who wanted it more,” said Reyes, a senior manager at Shangri-la Boracay.
Tirol-Ang, club vice chairman, said it was a privilege to join the tournament.
"There are more and more really good beach tennis players now making the event very competitive. Despite the scorching heat, you can see that everyone was keen to win on each categories making the victory here even sweeter. I’m greatly honored to be called a champion in the women’s category together with my partner Ada Yu,” she added.
"It is important for us to bring this sport to the people of Boracay so we were elated that the beach tennis tournament was held here in Boracay. Organizing the next tournament here will be a challenge, but it is one we are very much willing to take on. We will campaign for this again and we are hoping to attract not only the best beach tennis players in the country but the world," said Tirol-Ang, the general manager of family-owned Sur Beach Resort Boracay.
Tirol, the club's treasurer, said Boracay is a perfect location for beach sports.
"We are one with our local government to make Boracay a beach sports tourism destination. Specifically for Beach Tennis, our court is open to all players in the island, our tourists and most especially the youth to encourage them to take part in the development of physical and mental health by way of sports activities," she said.
Nok Sacapaño is the Boracay Racquet Sports Club PH chairman while Bong Tirol is chairman emeritus.
The chairman emeritus founded the beach tennis with the help of his Italian friends in Boracay, seeing the potential of the sport to grow “as it is globally popular right now especially in Europe.”
“We wanted this to be shared to other provinces and island destination for them to learn and enjoy the sport. Since we are promoting Boracay to be the Sports Tourism Destination of our country, we want beach tennis to be a driver of this direction," he added.
Beach tennis is a regular sports event at the Beach Games, which is the environment activity of the International Olympic Committee.
With the support of the Philippine Olympic Committee, Filipino beach tennis players are hoping to qualify for the 3rd World Beach Games scheduled from August 5-12 in Bali, Indonesia.
Other sports included in Bali 2023 are aquathlon, beach handball, beach soccer, beach volleyball 4×4, beach waterpolo, beach wrestling, individual Kata, open water swimming 5km, 3x3 basketball, air badminton, surfing, beach sprint rowing, and wingfoil racing. (PNA)
