The Green and Lady Tennisters ended Season 80 on a positive note, with both teams placing third. Despite being unable to improve from last year’s standing, the Green Tennisters remained positive about their results, happy with their bronze finish. As for the Lady Tennisters, this season was a big improvement for them after finishing in last place in Season 79.
Maintaining third
Opening the season on a high note with a win against ADMU, Green Tennisters captain Kyle Parpan mentioned that the team had a newfound confidence after seeing last season’s improvement. They were all aiming to win this year’s championship, as they felt ready and prepared to win the title.
Parpan continued to lead the team throughout the season, motivating his teammates to keep fighting despite the struggles along the way. Head coach Roland Kraut previously said that among his players in the men’s team, it is Parpan and LA Cañizares who stood out, showing their capabilities throughout the first half of the tournament even after the setbacks the two had faced.
“Our confidence was high, and everything that we had worked hard for was also paying off but we were just a few points away from our goal which is making it to the championship,” Parpan said.
He also explained that the team got ahead of themselves which was the reason why they were not able to close out the matches that needed to be closed, and he considered this as a struggle that the team faced especially in their match against UST in the first round and one against ADMU in the second. The latter essentially sealed DLSU’s fate away from the championship, while Ateneo moved on to face the eventual champion UE in the finals.
Along with this, a personal struggle for Parpan was when his grandmother passed away just before the second round started, making it difficult for him to regain his rhythm. However, it was not long before the captain was able to regroup and regain his composure in his last games of the season as he continued to lead the team in the final stretch. In its last match-up of the season, La Salle came up big as it defeated UST for third place, with Betto Orendain winning the clinching match.
After exhausting his playing years, Parpan feels grateful after being mentored by champion coaches who are passionate. In turn, he wants his team to appreciate them and remember to set goals for themselves. He also adds a few words for the next team captain, saying that being the captain is more than just a title but a responsibility to do better not only for himself but for the whole team. Respect is also an important factor Parpan wants the next team captain to have inside and outside the court. “The least that they can give to a person is respect.” He concluded by saying, “I hope I was able to help and contribute something good into the lives of my teammates.”
This was also the last playing year for Qoqo Allian and Cañizares.
Much improvement
The Lady Tennisters began their Season 80 campaign in rough patches, but under the leadership of Rachelle De Guzman, the Lady Tennisters managed to grow from their early losses as the season progressed. Despite the losses they suffered in the first round, her optimism for her team earned them a spot on the podium at season’s end.
The team began the season with an 0-4 win-loss record but the it eventually gained momentum late into the second round. Late wins against Ateneo and a win against UP on the last match day gave La Salle third place and a final record of 2-4.
De Guzman finished off her season undefeated and despite her hard work finally paying off, she took into consideration the efforts of her team, appreciating how they all fought throughout the season. “I saw na lumaban sila despite our situation. And super happy and proud ako na the team [won] second runner-up.”
One of the factors that the Lady Tennisters have struggled with since the beginning of the season was the shortage of players. The captain explains how it was difficult for them since they didn’t get the match-ups that they wanted, and that they also came up short in some crucial games. Had they won in those ties, she believes that her team would have made it to the finals.
De Guzman, however, remains non-committal with regards to playing next year. “I still have one more playing but still not sure if i will use it or not,” she explained. “But I want my team to remember na every training counts. Always work hard and always aim to be better inside and outside the court. And when you step on the court next season, [keep your] heads up and play like a champion no matter what happens.” This, however, was the last playing year for Nikki Arrandia.
