Philippines set for Asia Pacific Padel Cup participation

Pia Cayetano, Atty. Jacqueline Gan, Bryan Casao

The Philippines has a national team for padel.

Padel Pilipinas, the organization representing the sport, unveiled its pool on Friday afternoon at Play Padel located at the Greenfield District in Mandaluyong.

Armed with recognition from both the Philippine Olympic Committee and the Philippine Sports Commission, Padel Pilipinas is set to participate in the upcoming Asia-Pacific Padel Cup in Bali, Indonesia this coming September 19-22.

Overseeing the presentation are President and Founder Pia Cayetano, Executive Director Atty. Jacqueline Gan, and head coach Bryan Casao.

In making the announcement, Atty. Gan shares, "We're very proud, as the sole National Sports Association recognized by the Philippine Olympic Committee and Philippine Sports Commission, to send our official national team to this prestigious international competition, where nations compete against nations–not just individuals or organizations."

Leading the men's side is team captain LA Cañizares. Alongside him are Qoqo Allian, Mac Gulfo, Duane and Derrick Santos, and Joseph Serra.

The Senator herself is part of the women's side, alongside Tao Yee Tan, Princess Jean Naquila, and Yam Garsin. She says, "I challenge everyone who's a part of the team to raise the bar because we are accountable to the Filipino people. I try to inculcate in our players that they must always conduct themselves in a manner deserving to bear the Filipino flag."

Also part of the pool are a few notable tennis standouts: Johnny Arcilla, Niño Alcantara, and Marian Capadocia.

A multiple-time champion, Serra is currently the top-ranked padel player in the country and says about his inclusion, "Being part of Team Padel Pilipinas has elevated my game to the next level. It's not about individual wins anymore; it's about achieving success for the team. We're a group of exceptional players, both on and off the court."

Casao shares about the team's preparations for the APPC, "We've been training for two months now. I'm excited for the team, and I can say that our team is ready." The double-certified padel coach has tapped Jaric Lavelle to help with strength and conditioning.

Aside from the Philippines, padel players from Hong Kong, India, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and hosts Indonesia are set to tangle in the first-ever regional padel competition of its kind in the continent.

Team members have expressed their excitement and readiness to participate in this upcoming event.

Cañizares says, "Alam naman natin na ang dream ng bawat athlete is to represent the country and to be part of the National Team. I’m very honored that Padel Pilipinas chose me to be their player and Team Captain in this APPC Nations Cup tournament in Bali. I just wanna say that I’m very proud and very excited to lead the team."

Naquila adds, "Since this is my first time joining an international tournament, I’m very excited, siyempre makakalaban kami ng nations, we’re gonna represent our country, and I’m very confident naman po na may laban tayo."

Aside from the unveiling, Padel Pilipinas also shared the successes of the recently-concluded Padel Pilipinas Open. Considered as the biggest padel tournament in the country, with 234 matches being played across eight days of action, with over 170 players from 108 teams participating.

Atty. Gan says that the organization is "very glad, humbled, and proud," about the turnout.

As for competitions for the rest of the year, Padel Pilipinas will hold the Play Padel Open next month, the final event of the Philippine Islands Padel Tour, with the top player from the tour set to participate in the Padel Masters in November.

Cayetano statement on UAAP eligibility

On Wednesday morning, Senator Pia Cayetano gave her thoughts about the recent eligibility tweaks the UAAP installed starting this season.

Ako naman, katulad din ng ibang mga parents, ibang mga Filipino na nakibalita lang naman, nabalitaan natin na ang UAAP, sabi nila ay may bago daw silang rule na kapag ikaw ay galing sa isang UAAP school, tapos athlete ka dun, kapag nag-transfer ka sa ibang UAAP school din, bigla daw dadagdagan ng two years. Tama? Yun ang aking narinig, hindi ko naman nabasa ang kanilang rules, pero yun ang aking narinig. Paulit-ulit kong narinig, tapos nabanggit pa yung pangalan ko na sa pananaw daw nila, hindi daw ito paglalabag sa batas. 

Ito babasahin ko sa inyo ang batas, kasi napakaliwanag: 

“Residency of Student-Athlete Section 4 of the law states, in the case of a tertiary student-athlete, transferring from one college or university to another, a maximum of one year residency may be imposed by an athletic association before a student-athlete could participate and represent a school in any athletic competition.”

Sinabi na, diba? A maximum of one-year residency may be imposed before maka-represent dun sa athletic competition. Bawal ang ibang klaseng residency requirement.

UAAP board, nakikiusap naman ako. Yes, I understand, hindi po ako bobo. I understand na may issue kayo na pina-pirate yung athletes nyo. Then solve it in an adult way. Don't punish the kids. Don't punish the athletes. You know, there are rules about commercialization of athletes. I listen naman. Kasi sa US, meron na silang pagbabago daw sa mga rules nila, parang papayagan na daw. Kung ano naman yung gusto ninyo sa gawin sa mga athetes, very open naman tayo. Pero ang huwag na huwag niyong gagawin, eh paparusahan niyo yung atletes dahil sa kagagawan niyong nagpa-pirate kayo-kayo din.

If somebody's violating the rules on piracy, then yun yung violation niya. Nagpa-pirate siya. Pero do not punish the athlete. I'll tell you this, when I was an athlete, when I was a UAAP athlete, 4 years yung inabot kong limit to play. Tapos inabot ko yung dinagdagan ng 5 years. So yung gusto pang maglaro, yung nag-aaral pa naman, pwedeng up to 5 years. Okay, so may must playing time. 

Many sports, karamihan ng sports, walang life after sports when you graduate from college. It is our life as an athlete. Talagang nakabuhos diyan ang oras ng isang atleta sa kanyang sport. Minsan nga, halos hindi makapasa-pasa dahil nga talagang nakatutok sa sports. And that's why, dito sa student-athlete law natin, sinasabi natin na kailangan tulungan natin yung athlete na ma-balance niya din naman yung obligasyon niya as a student, diba? Gusto din naman natin maka-graduate yan. Ngayon, a lot of them are very talented and in only a few sports. Only a few. Basketball for sure. And only in the last few years, volleyball. May commercial leagues after their college days. And then meron pa silang pagkakataon na kumita as a professional. 

But the other sports, wala. Kung meron man, for fun na lang. Tawagin man nilang pro, semi-pro, minsan nga allowance lang, hindi mabigay. Tapos babawasan niyo pa yung years nila as an athlete in college? Why would you do that? Solve your problems another way. Don't penalize the athletes. There are many reasons, and please emphasize this. There are many reasons that an athlete will desire to move universities. Hindi lang dahil pinayret [pirate] siya na may mas magandang offer na commercial value. Paano kung hindi niya kasundo yung teammates niya? Nangyayari po yun. Yung feeling mo hindi ka belong, kaya ka lumipat. 

Kahit nga hindi athlete. May mga kilala ako lumipat, La Salle, Ateneo. Yung lumipat ng La Salle Ateneo to UP kasi parang hindi daw sila belong. Kaya sila napalipat ng school. That's a valid reason to move. 

Now, other reasons. Paano kung napakalayo ng school na yun dun sa tinitirhan mo? Paano naman kung, may top three na silang player sa position na yun. Ika-fourth ka pa. Ka-batch mo o one year lang ang tanda sa'yo. Wala ka bang karapatan na lumipat ng school kung saan baka naman ikaw ay maging top player or top two? Wala kang karapatan ngayon dahil sa ginagawa niyong kalokohan na bagong rule na yan?

That is what you're doing. You are limiting the potential of the athletes by this imposition of this additional two-year residency. It is stupid. So please, and I know that my asking won't really change your minds, but I am asking from the bottom of my heart, think of the athletes. It's not about the medals that your university brings home. It's about the lives that we can change through sports. And you will not change the lives of these kids when you limit their potential. 

Ako as an athlete, feeling ko apat na taon, tapos na yung career ko kasi wala nang commercial naman na pupuntahan yung volleyball at that time. Pero with five years of playing, at least buo yung five years mo, hindi mo man magamit yung sports mo, hindi mo man ipagpatuloy yung sports mo dahil baka naman yung sports mo nga hindi naman basketball po, na wala namang commercial league, pero magagamit mo yung natutunan mo as an athlete for five years in life. Tapos ngayon babawasan niyo pa. Why would you do that?

When asked about having a potential conversation with the league to address this matter, she replies.

Well, ang sa akin naman kasi, thank you for that question. Marunong naman ako magbasa. Kung mali yung intindi ko, by all means, clarify it. By all means. 

Pero kung hindi naman mali yung pagka-intindi ko, ano pang pag-uusapan namin? Ipapatawag ko na lang sila sa hearing and they are violating the law. They should be prepared for that. Yun lang naman yung sa akin. 

I'm very open, but let's not waste each other's time. May trabaho po kayo. Alam ko yung mga nasa UAAP board, karamihan naman po yan, talagang mga nagsisikap sa trabaho. 

And let me make it clear, hindi ko ho nilalahat. But I have to address it as an entity dahil yan ang decision na ginawa ng board.

Cayetano made these thoughts during the groundbreaking ceremonies for the new Athletes' Dorm being put up in place at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.

Groundbreaking Ceremony held for Future Athletes' Dormitory inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex

c/o Office of Senator Pia Cayetano

Senator Pia S. Cayetano joined sports officials and national athletes at the groundbreaking ceremony of the future seven-storey Athletes' Dormitory at the Rizal Memorial Sports Coliseum on September 12, 2024.

Senator Cayetano, a former national volleyball player and student-athlete, has been instrumental in funding this milestone infrastructure project. As Senior Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, she has been at the forefront of advocating for more support for Filipino athletes and sports development.  

The project, initially announced by Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman Richard Bachmann earlier this year, is envisioned to provide both living quarters and training facilities for national athletes. The new building will be constructed on the site of the former Pencak Silat and Boxing gyms, adjacent to the Teofilo Yldefonso Swimming Center. The new structure will serve as living quarters for the athletes with the sixth and seventh floor housing training venues for Pencak Silat and Boxing, respectively.

National athletes are currently housed in various spaces at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila and the PhilSports Multi-Purpose Arena in Pasig.

In her address, the Senator highlighted the importance of building an athletes' dorm at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex – a location that is steeped in sports history. She also recalled living in the South Tower during her stint as a former national volleyball athlete.

"I really believe that athletes can be the symbol of perseverance and success for this country. Ito ay proyekto natin with the leadership of Philippine Sports Commission, your coaches, and my colleagues in the Senate who are supportive of this. We hope to continue to invest in sports for this country," Senator Pia said.

She further emphasized the athletes’ need for better support systems and facilities, including sports psychology and mental health programs, underscoring the importance of community support in developing athletes.

“They always say it takes a village to raise a child. It also takes a village to raise an athlete. It really does,” she stressed.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by officials from the PSC, including Chairman Bachmann, and Commissioners Olivia “Bong” Coo and Walter Francis Torres. Also present were “Long Jump Queen” Elma Muros, as well as national athletes of the Indoor Hockey Men’s & Women’s Teams, ⁠Softball Men’s & Women’s Teams, ⁠Baseball Men’s Team, ⁠Weightlifting Men’s & Women’s Teams, and ⁠Sepak Takraw Men’s & Women’s Teams.

Cayetano celebrates Philippine sports milestone as Athletes’ Dormitory project kicks off

Senator Pia Cayetano expressed her excitement over the construction of the long-awaited athletes’ dormitory within the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, a project that has gained even more significance following our national athletes’ best Olympic performance yet at the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Envisioning a facility that will provide a supportive environment that enables Filipino athletes to achieve even better outcomes, Cayetano said the new dormitory represents an investment in our athletes' potential, creating an ecosystem that supports their journey towards athletic excellence and future success on the world stage.

Part of a P100-million initiative under the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), the project was championed by Senator Cayetano, who serves as the Senior Vice Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Finance, with crucial support from former Chairperson Senator Sonny Angara, who is now Education Secretary.

A staunch sports advocate, Cayetano highlighted the progress of Philippine sports, particularly as the country successfully secured two gold and two bronze medals in the Olympics courtesy of gymnast Carlos Yulo and boxers Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas. These victories secured the country's position as the best-performing country in Southeast Asia.

“One athlete can change the lives of so many young people. Hanga ang mga kabataan sa kanila,” she said, recognizing that elite athletes are not made overnight and that the discovery of local talent and early integration of sports are essential.

“These athletes, these medalists did not get their Olympic medals by the stroke of luck. It was grueling hard work, prioritizing training, and maybe even compromising family responsibilities. These are sacrifices that they made for over a decade to get to where they are today, to bring pride and honor to our country,” Cayetano said.

The senator also said it is important that long-term dedication and support are felt by Filipino athletes who wish to compete on the international stage. To this end, she supports funding for athletic programs at various State University Colleges (SUCs) and grassroots sports initiatives like Spike & Serve, Tuloy Foundation Football, and Payatas Football Club.

Beyond the construction of the much-needed athletes’ dormitory, Cayetano also authored several key legislations, including the Student-Athletes Protection Act, the National Academy of Sports Act, and the National Athletes, Coaches, and Trainers Benefits and Incentives Act. These efforts underscore her commitment in improving support not just for athletes, but also for coaches and trainers.

"In terms of legislation, it's part of our job to support our athletes. They bring so much pride and joy to the country. We must give them commensurate financial support so they can perform well," she said.

Through her advocacy arm Pinay In Action (PIA), which has been organizing sports clinics and tournaments for nearly two decades, the senator actively promotes the growth of sports in the country and remains optimistic that this marks the beginning of a new era for Filipino athletes.

“This is just the start of greater feats for our talented national athletes. Let's keep supporting them and Philippine sports!” she said.

Pia Cayetano on UAAP Board ruling

The office of Senator Pia Cayetano released this statement Tuesday, in light of the decision released by the UAAP Board on Monday. The Board had decided to keep Hubert Cani ineligble for the upcoming season.

The UAAP Board has once more displayed its arrogance and immaturity by invoking its unjust two-year residency rule against a high school student-athlete who has transferred to a different school in college. This is the very same UAAP rule that an RTC court struck down two years ago in favor of swimmer Mikee Bartolome. In the case of basketball player Hubert Cani, he has even served ONE YEAR of RESIDENCE already and was hoping to play this season.

It is irrelevant that the Student-Athletes Protection Bill has not been signed by the President YET. The UAAP must respect a student-athlete's right to study and play for the school of his choice. The UAAP is not a commercial but an amateur league. The UAAP Board should stop treating student-athletes like commodities.