Best thing that ever happened to tennis

MANILA, Philippines - Felix Barrientos greatly remembers 1991 as a banner year in his stellar tennis career.

One, he made a massive contribution to the Philippines’ strong bridesmaid finish in the SEAG at home. Two, his Davis Cup crew took on powerhouse Sweden in a World Group Qualifying Round tie, a stage tantalizingly close to where the tennis gods play.

“I won three gold medals and a silver in the SEA Games and overall, the Philippines came in second to Indonesia. It was really such a proud moment for me because many Filipinos were cheering me on – the gallery was completely packed and the crowd from the nearby swimming venue was cheering for us,” he recalled.

“It brought me joy to bring honor to the country at a time we came from one or two catastrophe, (Mt.) Pinatubo (eruption) and all that devastation. This was a shining light, our well-needed shot in the arm,” he said.

The SEAG feat came a few months after Barrientos, Roland So and Camoy Palahang hosted Sweden’s Rikard Bergh, Christian Bergstrom and Nicklas Kulti on a converted tennis court inside the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Result was 5-0 for the Swedes but it was still a shining moment for Barrientos and pals.

“We haven’t reached this (stage) for quite some time. The Swedes, who to this very day are a tennis powerhouse, came to the Philippines to play us and that was quite special,” said Barrientos, an international private banker based in Singapore since his retirement in 1993.

“Even though (former world No. 1) Stefan Edberg did not come, the ones who came were in the Top 50, and we gave them a good challenge despite the score. We’re happy that the Philippines was at the forefront of tennis in Asia that time,” he added.