Lhuillier backs tennis workshops

Although the Philippines just suffered a humbling 5-0 loss to Japan in the first round of the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group I competitions, the atmosphere is upbeat in the ongoing United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA) workshops that started in Medina, Misamis Oriental, last week and ends in Bais, Negros Oriental, on March 20.

The workshops are the main attraction of the “Goodwill Tennis Tour” that Fil-Am Elmer Dolera conceptualized in 1997. Every year, the tour brings in a USPTA instructor to conduct certification testing for coaches, recreational or developmental camps and clinics for kids, including advanced junior players.

Tour coordinator Raul Guerrero said what usually costs $330 for a coach to be accredited by the USPTA is down to $270 for local participants as a concession by the organization. The cost of the exam is $100 and membership in the USPTA is $170.

But attending the developmental coaching seminar is absolutely free, added Guerrero.

“The recreational or developmental workshop is a six-hour seminar for coaches, parents and instructors designed to teach tennis to youngsters and beginners in a fun and interesting way,” said Guerrero. “This system of teaching tennis incorporates the Belgian system of training tennis, optimizing the court and using graduated tennis equipment. It also espouses the idea of guided discovery in letting the students find their own feel and groove in hitting the ball.”

Guerrero, who is based in Cagayan de Oro, said the certification testing is an evaluation system consisting of several facets, including group and solo lessons, skills testing and an on-line written and grip exam.

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This year, USPTA chief tester Ted Sayrahder of Arlington, Washington, is back to supervise the tour. He has been a fixture in the workshop since its inception. Sayrahder has been a USPTA certified instructor for about 30 years and is also a senior developmental and high performance coach.

Guerrero said the tour opened with a developmental coaching seminar at the Fresh Fruit Inc. tennis court in Medina, Misamis Oriental, last Wednesday. Sayrahder attended to the participants from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The second developmental seminar was held in Angeles City last Sunday. The three other stops are Manila Polo Club today, Panglao Island Spa and Resort in Bohol on March 17 and Bais, Negros Oriental, on March 20.

Three professional certification tests are in the calendar. Sayrahder conducted the first two-day exam in Gingoog City last week. The next testing will be at the Manila Polo Club tomorrow and Thursday then the last will be at the Panglao Island Spa and Resort on March 18-19.

Guerrero said the tests will cover coaches in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao with at least five in every stop.

For Mindanao, the participants were Mario Craiz, Jonelle Llavorre, Len-len Autentico and for upgrading, Guerrero and Kenneth Salvo. At the Manila Polo Club, eight are expected to take the exam, including Davis Cupper Johnny Arcilla, Aigee Morales, Jesse Sian, Benji Puyat and Michael Mantua. For the Visayas, Raymond Ong will lead a cast of five coaches.

In the two developmental seminars held so far, Guerrero said Sayrahder accommodated over 50 participants.

There is a growing interest in tennis all over the country and it’s fuelled by the Philippine team’s recent successes in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. In Laos last year, the Philippine netters brought back two gold, three silver and five bronze medals for a total harvest of 10 – the most by any country in the biennial meet. The golds were from the men’s team (beating Thailand, 2-1, in the finals) and Cecil Mamiit in the men’s singles. It was Mamiit’s third straight SEA Games singles gold medal.

The damper, however, was the recent loss to Japan although the Filipinos went down fighting. To remain in Group I, the Philippines must beat Chinese-Taipei in the second round on July 9-11. The Philippines has swept Chinese-Taipei in four head-to-head Davis Cup faceoffs in history but the last tie was in 1999 with Joseph Lizardo, Bryan Juinio and Michael Misa conspiring for the 3-2 win. Australia beat Chinese-Taipei, 5-0, in their own tie last weekend, relegating the loser to a do-or-die showdown with the Philippines for the right to stay in Group I.

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Guerrero said while Dolera and the US Embassy must be credited for getting the “Goodwill Tennis Tour” off the ground, it is tennis benefactor Jean Henri Lhuillier who has kept it going.

“Jean Henri is more than just a sports patron,” said Guerrero. “As a businessman, he has turned Cebuana Lhuillier into one of the most professionally run companies in the country, making it into a super brand. This type of direction into professionalizing an industry, he has taken to Philippine tennis.”