Tennis SEAG target: seven gold medals

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By Marc Anthony Reyes
Philippine Daily Inquirer
First Posted 22:57:00 12/02/2009

Filed Under: Tennis, Sport

MANILA, Philippines--Philippine tennis has a good chance of winning five of the seven gold medals in the Laos Southeast Asian Games.

Officials said they are confident that the powerhouse cast led by Cecil Mamiit and Treat Huey can dominate the event in Vientiane in the Dec. 9 to 18 Games.

?We have a strong chance of winning five gold medals,? said Philippine Lawn Tennis Association vice president for development Randy Alcantara.

He singled out men?s singles, men?s doubles, men?s team, women?s doubles and mixed doubles, as the country?s strengths.

Mamiit, the RP Davis Cup top gun, will shoot for his third straight gold in men?s singles, while he and Huey are favorites in doubles.

Denise Dy and Riza Zalameda, 2005 Manila SEA Games bronze medalists, might be fielded in women?s doubles. Mamiit and Zalameda are expected to partner once again to repeat their 2005 victory.

The country won only one gold two years ago in Thailand but was overall champ in 2005 with three golds, one silver and three bronzes.