Gold of the good for charitable Cecil Mamiit
Gold of the good for charitable Cecil
By Roy Luarca
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 04:25:00 12/14/2009
Filed Under: Southeast Asian Games, Tennis, Sports Events
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VIENTIANE, LAOS—Before flying here on a mission for flag and country, Cecil Mamiit answered a call of a more urgent nature. The tennis ace raised $9,000 through a tournament for the victims of vicious storms that had hit the Philippines months back.
Close to midnight Saturday, Mamiit and fellow Filipino-American Treat Conrad Huey made a more humble—but still meaningful—contribution to the country’s cause.
Mobbed by teammates and officials in the middle of the tennis court of the National Sports Complex amid a mix of tears, hugs and laughter, Mamiit and Huey celebrated with a frenzy the gold medal they chipped in to the plodding Philippine medal machine at the 25th Southeast Asian Games here.
It was a victory that took nearly two roller-coaster hours to finish. And when the end came—the Thais failed to return a baseline shot in the tiebreaker—the gutsy Filipinos emerged on top of a thrilling 4-6, 6-3, 7-6 (4) win over Thai twins Sanchai and Sochat Ratiwan that capped what was an eight-hour journey toward averting an RP gold drought.
The deciding doubles match was one of the last events played Saturday.
“I feel a little bit of a savior,” Mamiit said jokingly. “We didn’t know that (tennis won the lone gold Saturday). It’s good that we didn’t know it.”
The gold gave RP tennis reason to rejoice—especially Mamiit, who has been haunted by a previous loss to the Thais.
“We came close to beating them in 2007,” said Mamiit, who was paired with Eric Taino in the Thailand Games.
Huey set the tone for the victory, subduing Kittipon Wachiramamawong, 6-4, 1-6, 7-6, in 2 ½ hours.
Mamiit, up against an old, familiar foe in Danai Udomchoke, had the chance to build on that but tripped, 6-4, 6-2.
Ranged against the cocky Thais, who were cheered on by hundreds of supporters, the 33-year-old Mamiit and Huey, who needed an ice press to battle cramps, relied on their iron will and dug deep early on as they faced a 1-2 deficit in the first set.
“Treat pulled me through with his confidence,” said Mamiit. “I think that’s what got us through.”
There was little to celebrate with after the match. The pair arrived at the Athletes’ Village with the mess hall already closed.
“We couldn’t find anything to eat,” Mamiit said. “All we had were Pringles and cookies.”
And a gold, which was enough to tide them through until breakfast the next morning.
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