By el Amigo
MANILA – A promising medal run in China has given the Philippine teqball squad added momentum as it steps up preparations for the Asian Games in Japan next month.
The national team collected a silver and bronze medal at the Beach Teqball International Cup in Rushan, China on Aug. 11, with two young men’s doubles players making a strong impression against international competition.
Anel Pacis Jr. and Prince Agustin, both only 14, reached the championship match before falling to Adam Bako of Hungary and Bartlomiej Franczuk of Poland, 3-12, 7-12.
The Grade 9 students of Buttong Integrated School in Laoag City became the youngest participants in the competition.
The Philippines also earned a bronze in women’s doubles through Jhoana Abulencia and Rizzalyn Amolacion. Competing internationally for the first time, the pair lost a tightly contested semifinal to China’s Yanbing Ning and Cuiyangyi Zhan, 8-12, 12-11, 8-12.
Abulencia said the tournament was a significant milestone for the duo, who were making their first appearance together in women’s doubles.
Amolacion, a tourism student at Lyceum Northern Luzon, also thanked the Philippine Teqball Federation officials and coaching staff for their support.
Abulencia is a magna cum laude graduate of Lyceum Northern Luzon, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in Technology and Livelihood Education major in Industrial Arts.
National coach George Balanay lauded the entire delegation, highlighting the resilience of the players throughout the tournament.
He singled out Pacis and Agustin for their performance against veteran opponents, saying their age did not prevent them from competing at a high level.
For Balanay, the silver medal was evidence that dedication, discipline, courage and self-belief can overcome the disadvantage of youth and inexperience.
The squad is now back on the training court for the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan, scheduled from Sept. 19 to Oct. 4.
Montenegro, a veteran of the 2025 SEA Games, will team up with Pacis in men’s doubles. Agustin is also slated to compete in singles and mixed doubles alongside Abulencia.
Balanay expects a more demanding competition in Japan, with several Asian countries already established as strong contenders in teqball.
China, Thailand and Iran emerged as the top three nations in the overall medal tally at the sixth Asian Beach Games in Sanya, China, where teqball was introduced as a medal event.
Teqball is a relatively new sport that blends football skills with the agility associated with sepak takraw. Matches are played on a curved table resembling a modified ping-pong table.
It was first featured as a demonstration sport at the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia and became a medal event at the 2025 edition.
The sport will also be included in the regular program of the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Saudi Arabia this December.
