Cebuano player earns slot in PHL sepak takraw team

CEBU, Philippines - Cebuano Rhey Jey Ortouste will be carrying the country’s colors once again as he was chosen to be one of the representatives to the 3rd ASEAN School Games sepak takraw tournament on June 30 to July 8 in Singapore.

The 17-year-old Ortouste of Abellana National School is very proud and honored to be bringing the name of the Queen City of the South being the lone Cebuano in the team.

“Proud kaayo ko kay naa gyud taga-Cebu nga nadala sa lineup for ASEAN School Games. That’s why nag-double time gyud ko ron sa akong training plus balance sa eskwela,” he said.

“Kapoy and at the same time pressured because I need to balance my training with my studies but agwantahon lang gyud ang kakapoy kay athlete baya ko,” he added.

He hopes that the team can win a medal in the event.

This is Ortouste’s second time to compete in the ASEAN School Games. His first participation was last year in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, where the Philippines finished fourth.

The ASEAN School Games have not started yet, but Ortoustre has another great opportunity to look forward to at the end of the year.

Coach Marlon Gicain was told by Philippine Team head coach Rodulfo Eco, that the latter has plans of including Ortouste in the lineup of the RP senior team for the Southeast Asian Games (SEAG) in December.

“I was told by coach Eco that he’s planning to include Ortouste in the lineup for SEA Games even during the Palarong Pambansa and in the Philippine National Games. Hopefully, this will be pushed through. If there will be no changes that will happen until December, then Ortouste will have a sure slot for SEA Games,” said Gicain. – THE FREEMAN