PALEMBANG - Philippine tennis will go home empty-handed in the 2018 Asian Games after it failed to go beyond the round of 32 qualifications in six events.
The overlying theme of their demise can be summed up in lack of exposure and inexperience.
Jeson Patombron, Francis Alcantara, Katharina Lenhert, Marian Capadocia, and AJ Lim fought valiantly in their qualification matches but were inevitably outplayed by older and more experienced players. Four out of the five Filipino athletes made their Asian Games debut, with Lenhert being the lone returnee from the 2014 team. Though all of them have played in various competitions abroad, their level of play was still not enough against Asia's best.
Patombron won his opening men's single match against Nazario Gusmao of East Timor to enter the round of 32, but could not overcome Yibing Wu of China in his next contest.
Nineteen-year-old AJ Lim displayed talent and potential for his age, but unfortunately also showed his youth and lack of experience. Lim ran out of steam as he tried to stay aggressive against China's Zhizhou Zhang. He lost in two sets, 6-4, 6-2. Lim was earlier paired with 22-year-old Capadocia in mixed doubles action versus Indians Divij Sharan and Kamran Kaur Thandi. The Filipinos were able to catch the Indians off guard in a number of games before ultimately falling in two sets.
Capadocia had another doubles match and she competed alongside Filipino-German Katharina Lenhert. The two pushed Kazakhstan to the limit in two very close sets. However, too many errors and missed opportunities led to another loss.
Lenhert, who competes in club matches and pocket tournaments in Germany, was paired with Alcantara for another mixed doubles events. They too fell short in two sets, this time at the hands of Thailand.
"We didn't have our best day. We didn't play really good. Sometimes in sports it's like that," Lenhert said after the match. "You fight, you try to play your best but then it's not working actually."
In terms of experience, Lenhert and Alcantara are probably more advanced than their teammates. However, in a doubles play, chemistry and familiarity also play huge roles. Knowing your partner's tendencies and movements on the court are what separates good doubles team from the rest.
The Philippines did have a very serious chance of getting into the next round in the men's doubles. Patombron and Alcantara nabbed the first set against highly-favored Chinese Taipei. In the second set, they were down 1-5 and clawed their way back to force a tiebreaker. Their comeback bid fell short with a couple of shots going long and out of bounds to give their opponent the second set. In the deciding third set, Chinese Taipei got the early advantage and never relinquished the lead.
"For me I think we need more exposure. Especially to the young guys. We have talent but we don't have the exposure," assessed Alcantara. "If we have better sponsors maybe. all of us can travel together, play together. it will be a big boost for us especially this big games. Imagine if me and Katha or me and Jeson have been playing for what, two, three years together, we'll be familiar with each other and that would be a big help."
The young Philippine contingent is a young and talented group without Filipino-American Treat Huey who was nursing a back injury. Huey of course is no stranger to Filipinos, having competed in multiple Grand Slam doubles matches. He also won a ton of SEA Games medals since 2009. The Philippines also missed out on standouts Ruben Gonzales and Clarice Patrimonio.
Despite all the challenges and tough losses, all five athletes Alcantara, Lehnert, Patrombon, Capadocia, and Lim, did not sour grape on their lack of exposure or the what ifs of their failed Asian Games campaign. If inexperience got the better of them, they can rely on their potential and hope to improve.
Lehnert will go back to Germany, but also says she isn't closing the door on eventually living in the Philippines. Lim, the youngest of the group, will go to the United States for training. Similarly, Alcantara will fly out to America and train with Huey himself.
"To all our countrymen, thank you for the support this week. We hope the support doesn't stop during our tennis tournaments throughout the year," expressed Alcantara.
Philippine tennis at the 2018 Asian Games will go down as another failed campaign and unfortunately soon be forgotten. However, if there's any kind of silver lining, it's the experience and potential that the young team possesses. Hopefully in the future, this will result in better finishes for the Philippines.