Sunday, May 11, 2008 Jacqueline Caragao and table tennis By Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan
I FIRST met Jacqueline Caragao during the Philippine National Youth Games Batang Pinoy Championships in Sta. Cruz, Laguna in 2001 where she finished among the top eight in the girls table tennis singles event. Not bad for a first timer.
Since then, Jacque had improved and had become the top lady table paddler in the region.
Seeing her again at the opening rites of the Southern Mindanao Private Schools Athletic Association (SM Prisaa) Meet in March this year was quite a surprise. I haven't recognized her at all. She has grown up.
I even have to ask around where she was only to find out she was the one reading a textbook in one corner. The SM Prisaa Meet opening program just finished.
When I handed her a questionnaire for her profile, she accorded me the same respect she usually does whenever we see each other in tournaments.
Up Close And Personal
Jacque is the fourth child in the brood of five. She was born on September 4, 1989 to parents Procopio and Evangeline Caragao. Her family resides at Block 1, Lot 9, S.I.R. Phase 1 in Matina, this city.
She was prodded by her brother to play table tennis on her fourth grade. She was 10.
Her former coach Friendee Nuñez, who also served as president of the Metro Davao Table Tennis Association (Medatta), said: "She was introduced by her brother to join our group. She was so serious in the practice so we spent a lot of time together because she never stops practicing until she gets tired."
"Whenever she shows her determination in the game, she usually wins. She might become a member of the national team five years now if she gets lucky," said Nuñez who also teaches at the S.I.R. Elementary School where Jacque completed her elementary education.
Jacque made her debut in competitive table tennis in the Araw ng Dabaw Women's Open Tournament in 2001 where she settled for the runner-up honors.
"I first became champion only during the Southern Mindanao Regional Athletic Association (SMRAA) Meet in 2002 held in Davao City then I also won the gold medal in the Palarong Pambansa in Naga City on the same year. The wins really overwhelmed me that time," she said.
This five-foot-one Education sophomore at the Holy Cross of Davao College also competed in the 2001 LG Cup Age-Group Badminton Tournament at the Rizal Memorial Complex Gym in Manila but she was eliminated in the quarterfinals.
In 2002, she topped the girls division of the LG Cup Mindanao Open at the Victoria Plaza but placed second in the LG Cup RP selection. On the same year, she formed part of the RP junior team in the 9th Asean Games at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila.
She may not have won a medal in that international stint, Jacque was still proud to represent the country in the prestigious meet. Her rich experience there made her a better player as she often emerged champion or runner-up in every tournament she get her hands on.
She swept the titles in the Dacs Sportsfest from 2002 to 2005 and was silver medalist in the Davao Regional Athletic Association (Davraa) Meet held in Panabo City in 2003.
She bounced back in the next three Davraa Meets held in Mati, Davao City and Sto. Tomas with back-to-back-to-back gold medal victories.
In the 2005 Palaro in Iloilo City, she salvaged a bronze in secondary girls table tennis then grabbed the runner-up honors in the 2006 RRD Table Tennis Tournament at SM City Davao. From 2006 to 2007, she kept the championships in Dacs Sportsfest played at the HCDC campus.
She was also the dominating figure in Davao City and SM Prisaa Meets from 2006 to 2008. She bagged a silver in the National Prisaa Championships in Iloilo last year.
Last month, she steered Southern Mindanao to win the women's team gold medal in the National Prisaa Championships in Zamboanga City. She also clinched a silver in singles and a bronze in doubles.
All those achievements were the fruits of her hard work and discipline. She said she gets inspiration from her family, friends and other athletes.
"I usually wake up at six or seven a.m. then I'm off to school. I practice with my varsity teammates every Tuesday and Thursday afternoons after classes then I go home," she said.
She admitted that she sometimes find it hard to study her lessons at home after rigid training. This happens when she is preparing for a tournament.
But she was quick to add that she has no regret being an athlete. "I'm happy to be a sports scholar. I'm happy with my sport and I'm excited to become a teacher someday."
"I'm thankful to be an athlete because I get to travel different places. What I still am looking forward to achieve though is compete for the country in a tournament abroad," she added.
Five years from now, Jacque said she wants to pursue a career in teaching. And table tennis will still be very much a part of her.
