The Philippines is steadily making its mark in Southeast Asian table tennis, a testament to the Philippine Table Tennis Federation’s efforts to cultivate rising talents for the biennial competition.
Leading that charge is Angel Laude, a rising star going into her third consecutive SEA Games, for whom representing the country is always a profound honor.
“Siyempre po malaki po ‘yung impact nung pinapakita nila sa‘kin, pinapa-feel nila sa‘kin na may tiwala sila sa kakayahan ko. Nakakapag-boost talaga siya ng morale and nakakapag-encourage siya sa‘kin na mas pagbutihin ko ‘yung training ko every day,” said Laude, the UAAP Season 86 MVP from De La Salle University.
Earlier this month, as she prepared for the Thailand games, Laude shifted her focus from national team training to leading the Lady Green Paddlers as captain in the UAAP season.
While the Lady Green Paddlers fell short of a Finals return this year, Laude’s unbeaten run in the tournament has bolstered her confidence as she sets her sights on representing the Philippines in Thailand next month.
(C) UAAP Season 88 Media Team
“Since maganda naman ‘yung run ko this season and wala rin po akong talo, nag-prove siya sa‘kin na nagbunga lahat ng effort ko sa training ko both sa school and with the national team,” said the 24-year-old paddler from Atimonan, Quezon.
For Laude, representing something bigger than herself or her school is a source of pride.
Drawing lessons from her UAAP stints and her previous two SEA Games appearances, she is ready to fight for wins and potential medals this time.
“Super masaya kasi not everyone is given the opportunity po, and every time na makapag-compete kami internationally kasi not all the time, limited lang kasi ‘yung budget, sinusulit namin at talagang ginagawa namin ‘yung best para ipaglaban ‘yung Pilipinas,” she shared.
In the previous SEA Games edition in Cambodia, the Philippine team finished with just one bronze medal, narrowly missing out on more podium finishes.
Laude and the Nationals are now determined to turn those near-misses into motivation.
“Last SEA Games, we came one point away from getting the medal. Pero siguro hindi siya binigay ni Lord kasi may purpose pa — para mas pagbutihan namin ‘yung training and para mas paghandaan namin ‘yung competition,” she said.
“And now, we have teammates na nasa abroad, and doon nagte-train. And kami rin here sa Philippines, ginagawa namin ‘yung best effort namin na makapag-train nang maayos. We promise to give our best in every game, hinding-hindi kami basta bibigay, hinding-hindi kami basta susuko.”
