By Kristel Satumbaga
The Philippine tennis team assured itself of a gold medal on Friday after two pairs advanced to the men’s doubles finals of the 30th Southeast Asian Games at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
Ruben Gonzales serves in the Soft Tennis doubles semifinals against Vietnam during the SEA Games at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center, December 6, 2019 (Rio Leonelle Deluvio / Canon 1DX Mark II with 400mm f2.8 lens)
Top seed Treat Huey and Ruben Gonzales whipped Vietnam’s Le Quoac Khanh and Ly Hoang Nam, 6-1, 6-3, before Francis Casey Alcantara and Jeson Patrombon followed suit with a 6-3, 6-1 triumph over Daniel Cao Nguyen and Nguyen Van Phuong also of Vietnam in the other semifinal match.
It was a sweet victory for both Filipino pairs as their recent feats already eclipsed the team’s two-silver, two-bronze medal haul in the 2017 Kuala Lumpur edition.
Alcantara said it would just be a friendly competition against Huey and Gonzales, his former Davis Cup teammates, on Saturday’s championship.
“We don’t care. Basta we got the gold and silver, that’s what we wanted naman. We’re very happy that we’re both in the finals. Bahala na bukas,” he said.
Incidentally, Alcantara will be facing Gonzales, his teammate in the 2017 meet where they took home the men’s doubles silver.
Source: Manila Bulletin
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