MANILA -- Former Davao City's Palarong Pambansa champion Shaira Hope Rivera, Philippines women's No. 2, ended her debut stint in the 30th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games on a sour note, as her tandem with No. 1 Marian Jade Capadocia bowed to Vietnam bets Wednesday, December 4, at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center here.
Philippines' Rivera-Capadocia bowed to Vietnam pair Phan Thi Thanh Binh and Tran Thuy Thanh Truc, 6-2, 3-6 (8-10) in women's doubles preliminary round.
Rivera, 20, who hails from Compostela Valley, said: "I feel so sad kasi natalo (kami) talaga."
She said the first set was quite easy but they were caught off guard in the second set as the Vietnamese changed their play.
"Sa second set nagbag-o sila og strategy. Naga-baseline og hulog-hulogan nami nila (They shifted strategy in the second set. They attacked us on the baseline and made drop shots)," the Ateneo de Manila University AB Literature English college sophomore said in a phone interview with SunStar Davao.
The Filipino tandem also did their share of drop shots and volleys but most of these did not get in.
Rivera continued, "Maganda po ang game. Til the end nilaban man jud mi. Lamang sila sa tiebreak, gitry sad namo og apas (It was a good game. We fought until the end. When they were ahead in the tiebreaks, we tried to trim their lead)."
She said it was unfortunate since their draw was favorable to them, adding that they stood a good chance to win a medal. She, however, has affected their loss as she and Capadocia said sorry to each other after the game.
She wishes good luck to the rest of their teammates who are still competing in the Games. "I will cheer them on the sidelines," she said.
Her Sta. Ana National High School coach Marivic Salvador watched her game, proud to see her improve as a player. "Maganda nilaro ni Shai. She gave her best para sa bayan," Salvador said.
Tennis matches set December 3 were reset Wednesday, December 4, due to Typhoon Tisoy.