Catherine Flores: The clay courts queen

One of the leading ladies behind the lawn tennis squad that won four straight championships from 2002 to 2005, Catherine Flores is considered one of the best Lady Tennisters to have ever suited up for the Green-and-White.

Flores’ family was a big factor in her tennis career as she started playing the sport at the age of eight. She started by tagging along and watching her father’s tennis games. Aside from her father, her sister also excels in tennis as the sport has become a family affair. Flores explained, “My tennis sessions with my father then became a regular thing. Afterwards, I met other kids who play also so I got hooked to the game.”

The former Lady Tennister chose to suit up for La Salle primarily because of the high quality of education that the University offered her aside from the athletic program. Another factor was her familiarity with other members of the roster.

The historic 4-peat

For Flores, winning the championship in the UAAP four times in a row was one of her greatest lifetime achievements.

She said, “There was the overflowing support from our sponsors, sports director Mr. Danny Jose and other staff of the sports office, from Coaches Roland Kraut and Taddy Cruz, from our parents, friends, schoolmates and teammates.”

Flores continued, “At that time, we were such a closely knit team. Everyone in the team was trying to help each other out not just in terms of improving their games but even with respect to school work or personal problems.”

With the recent championship feat of the current Lawn Tennis team, Flores believes that the team is on its way to repeat the historical 4-peat, or even go beyond her team’s achievement before.

From lawn to law

During her stay at the University, she became a member of Alyansang Tapat sa Lasalista and was an organizer of the La Salle Athletic League. The multi-talented Flores also worked as a student assistant at the English Department during her last academic term.

After graduating from DLSU, Flores went to law school. She just graduated and is now a licensed lawyer. She now works as a Junior Associate at Picazo Buyco Tan Fider& Santos Law Offices.

Despite the her hectic schedule, she still plays lawn tennis. She ended, “I guess, once an athlete, always an athlete, and you will always love your sport no matter what. It would be hard to get tennis out of my system.”