Marinel Rudas & Estoy Pantua: Prominence and Headship

In a team, greatness and leadership come in a pair. When you have this pair, you will conquer the rest of the field and triumph. The DLSU Tennisters are examples of a team encompassing these two factors for they have accomplished much success in their recent campaigns in the UAAP.

Marinel Rudas is one of the most well-known lawn tennis players today. Her prominence is brought about because of her greatness, tremendous talent, and heart that she has shown in the past years as a national team member and a DLSU Lady Tennister.

Regarded today as the number one tennis player in the country is definitely an achievement for Rudas and she shares, “Siyempre, okay yun. I mean dun palang guts na namin yun as a team, through that nahahatak ko yung ibang teammates ko.” Furthermore, her exposure in the national team draws an advantage in the UAAP wars as she claims that it intimidates her opponents.

“Sobrang malaki yung effect noon, kasi kapag Philippine team ka kasi nakikilala ka nila as ganun kahit hindi ka ganun,” says the sophomore Rudas. “Yung mentality nila is magaling ka and then nakakawala ng focus sa opponents mo, and nagiging advantage ko yun.”

However, playing for both La Salle and the Philippine National Team is a tedious task for the reigning UAAP Rookie of the Year. For her, the hardest part of being a national team competitor is being committed to two teams since there must be equal treatment of her responsibilities for both teams.

In terms of administrating her time for practice, Rudas says, “Mina-manage ko lang properly. Dapat sobrang equal. May time for training here sa La Salle and may time rin for training sa Philippine team.”

Lastly, the Lady Tennister concludes by giving a message to young amateur athletes as she adds, “Sa lahat ng athletes, wala namang huli as long as you motivate your self. Yung mind set mo sobrang importante ‘yan, tsaka wala namang imposible. Once na-reach mo na yung goal mo dapat di kayo nagiging contented and strive for more.”
Just like how Rudas sets the tone for the Lady Tennisters, Estoy Pantua plays the same role with the DLSU Green Tennisters. Admirable leadership is incredibly noteworthy in any team sports. In addition to that, it plays an essential and crucial role in the team. If a team has a first-rate leader, it will yield rewards and through the supervision of team captain Pantua, the team was able to succeed.

Among the other tennis players representing La Salle, Pantua was privileged in view of the fact that he was chosen as the team captain of the Men’s Tennis team. “Well, I felt happy because they chose me to lead and be a role model to the team,” he says.

On the other hand, he said he was not pressured at all by his role of being a leader of team. It wasn’t that easy though and he shares, “There is [an] age gap between us. It was hard for me to know how I will approach them,” answers Pantua regarding his difficulties in leading the team.

Just like Rudas, Pantua gives an inspiring message to young amateur athletes and he says, “Be humble about your achievements and not waste time. Train like you are in second place and play like you’re the champion.”