US-based Dandan eyes nat’l team

UNITED States-based tennis player Kyle Dandan is looking forward to a  stint with the national team.

A mainstay of the St. Clara University in California, Dandan was recently recruited to train under renowned coach Brad Stine, who polished the games of former No. 1 Jim Courier and handled the thriving careers of Sebastian Grosjean, Mardy Fish, Taylor Dent and Jonathan Stark.

“If given the chance I would love to play for the Philippines, but I believe my time will come,” said the six-foot, 23-year-old Dandan, who moved to the US on an athletic scholarship four years ago and came back this month to touch base with the local tennis scene.

The Philippine Tennis Association is presently looking at Filipino-born players who trained in the US for national team duty like Francis Casey Alcantara, who also plays in US NCAA Division 1, and Pablo Olivarez II from Western Michigan.

Dandan, who reached the third round of the recent PCA Open men’s singles before losing to Jeson Patrombon, said he will not concentrate on the pro circuit after getting the offer to train under Stine.

“I believe I have improved a lot in terms of overall disposition and in the way I play,” said  Dandan.