It took 12 years, a scouring of the whole nation, much-needed veteran support, loud cheers, and the South Korean city of Sunchang for the Philippines to win its first-ever Southeast Asian Games gold medal in the women's team event of soft tennis.
The women's team, comprised of Christy Sañosa, Fatima Amirul, Noelle "Bien" Zoleta-Mañalac, Noelle "Bambi" Zoleta, Princess Catindig, and Virvienica Bejosano, beat Indonesia in three matches, 5-4, 4-2, 5-0.
It was coach Divine Escala's dream that was in the making for over a decade.
She was part of that women's team which settled for bronze in 2011, when the event was introduced at the SEA Games. At the time, host Indonesia took the gold.
There was no women's team event in 2019, when soft tennis was played in the biennial meet again. It was only in this year's SEA Games, in Cambodia, when the sport was made part of the games.
It was only fitting that they defeated Indonesia in the finals.
"It was already a dream to have a gold medal," Escala told One Sports' Doreen Suaybaguio on Tuesday. "Mailap 'to sa'min. It's been twelve years na hinintay na maibalik ang gold sa women's team."
Sisters Bien and Bambi, who already won the women's doubles event in Phnom Penh, had to fight hard in the team event. It was sent to a tiebreaker at 4-4, but they eventually snatched the win.
"Kampante kami sa isa't isa," Bambi Zoleta said of her sister Bien, "Alam namin na 'di namin itatapon."
"Confident talaga kami na para sa amin kasi gusto talaga namin makuha itong history na 'to," Bien added.
"Para sa bayan, para sa Pilipinas, at para sa future ng soft tennis."
They couldn't have done it without the support of the men's team, which fell to Thailand in the semifinals to settle for bronze. They ensured that the women did not feel alone in Cambodia with their strong cheers.
"Iisa tayong mga Pilipino, need namin i-cheer," Thor Moralde of the men's squad explained to Suaybaguio.
"'Yung pagkatalo namin, 'yung pagka-champion ng girls, parang nabawi talaga lahat ng binuhos namin sa cheer," he said as his voice started to shake. "Nag-resulta sa gold."
"'Di lang 'to para sa sarili ko, para talaga 'to sa Pilipinas," Bambi said.
Princess Catindig ensured the gold for the Philippines after winning in singles.
"'Yung laro nila Ate Bien alam ko na makukuha nila. Alam ko na hindi sila papayag na hindi nila makuha 'yung larong 'yun," she said. "'Yung laro ko, kampante ako na makukuha 'yung ginto."
"Ako 'yung magpapanalo sa team. Matagal ko 'tong pinaghandaan, 'di ako papayag na 'di ko makuha 'yung gold."
The historic gold stemmed from the effort of getting talented athletes all over, such as Lucena in Quezon, Santa Rosa in Laguna, and Silang in Cavite.
"Lahat ng players ko ay purely Pilipino," Escala boasted. "From lahat ng sulok ng bansa."
"The seniors really helped. 'Yung aking mga beteranong nag-medalya nung 2019, sila ang pundasyon para makuha ang medalya," added Escala.
They also got significant training in Sunchang, South Korea last March.
"The coaches were really helpful, they gave all their support," Escala shared. "Tatlong beses kaming binalikan para masiguro na kami ay makakakuha ng medalya."
This relentlessness poured over with the young Filipinas.
"Maski ayaw na nila 'yung ginagawa nila, they still asked for it," Escala said. "They asked for more para makuha 'yung medalya."
She hopes this would be the start of the growth of soft tennis and welcomes all who want to receive training.
"Meron po kayong pangarap, i-aim n'yo po. Talagang [natutupad]."
(With reports from Doreen Suaybaguio, One Sports)
(GM)