Alcala leads PH Junior Fed Cup team in Sri Lanka

A file photo of Angelica Alcala (left) taken during a tournament in Lucena City last year. (Photo courtesy of Gary Alcala)

MANILA — Angelica Alcala of Lucena City in Quezon province will spearhead the Philippine campaign in the pre-qualifying round of the Junior Federation Cup in Sri Lanka’s capital city of Colombo.

Amanda Gabrielle Zoleta, also from Lucena City, and Ma. Patricia Lim are the other members of the team which has left on Saturday to compete in the 16-Under tournament scheduled March 12 to 17 at the Sri Lanka Tennis Center.

Amada Gabrielle, who is the niece of national players Bien and Bambi Zoleta, has attended the 14-Under Development Training Camp in Thailand last year.

Alcala, who studies at the International School for Better Beginnings, said she is excited to be part of the team.

“It’s an amazing experience representing the country and I am blessed to be included in the team. I’m excited and nervous at the same time playing against the top players from other countries,” said Alcala in an online interview on Monday.

“I need to focus on my game. I will do my best,” added Alcala, who is the third among four tennis-playing children of Gerardo, an engineer, and Oliva, a businesswoman.

Meanwhile, the Philippines will see action on Tuesday against Tajikistan, which is represented by Samira Davlatova, Nargizakhon and Benazir Sharifova.

The Philippines and Tajikistan are in Group C together with Singapore, which defeated Tajikistan (3-0) on Monday.

Group A has Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and Maldives, while Group B has Mongolia, Lebanon, and Bangladesh.

Vietnam downed Maldives, 3-0, while Mongolia beat Bangladesh, 2-1, on Monday.

The top team from each group will advance to the next round.