After missing Tokyo, Romero shifts focus to SEAG, UAAP
By: Genrev Josiah Villamin and Robin Jerome Reyes
(Photo by ITTF) To represent the country once again at the 2021 SEA Games as well as to help the Taft-based squad reclaim the UAAP title — Philippine National Team member and De La Salle University (DLSU) Lady Paddler Jannah Romero shifts her focus after falling short of clinching a spot for the 2020 Summer Olympics.
Romero was one of several Filipino athletes who flew to Doha, Qatar earlier this month to compete at the 2020 World Singles Qualification Tournament (WSQT), held last March 14–17, and the 2020 Asian Olympic Qualification Tournament (AOQT), held last March 18–20. Both tournaments served as a chance for Olympic-hopefuls to stake their claim and qualify for the quadrennial sporting events which are slated later this year in Tokyo, Japan.
In one of four Round of 16 Knock-outs at the WSQT, Romero was pitted against Serbian candidate Sabina Surjan last March 14. But just after the first three sets of the match, the Philippine candidate already found herself in a deep hole, losing each set in similar 8–11 scores. Needing to win the remaining four straight sets, the DLSU standout bounced back and claimed the momentum in Set 4, 11–9, and Set 5, 11–9. However, Surjan, who finished the tournament at #31, would not be denied as she owned Set 6, 11–4, to win the match, 4–2. The loss eliminated Romero, who finished at #46, from contention for a ticket to Tokyo, at least via the WSQT.
Held just four days later at the same Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena, Romero had one final shot — via the AOQT. She started on a good note with a 4–3 nail-biter against fellow Philippine national athlete Rose Jean Fadol. Later that day, however, she succumbed to Thailand’s Orawan Paranang, 0–4. The DLSU Lady Paddler defeated Indonesian Siti Aminah, 4–0, the following day to cap her AOQT campaign with a W-L record of 2–1, good for second place. The loss against Paranang proved to be crucial as the Thai candidate, who finished first place with a spotless 3–0 record, eventually acquired the spot for the Olympics.
“It’s a good experience for me kasi rookie pa naman ako sa Philippine National Team as a senior and nakapag-qualifying na ako agad,” shared Romero. She first represented the country in the senior rank at the 2019 SEA Games, where she skipped UAAP Season 82. The recently-concluded Doha games were her first time vying for an Olympic spot. “Sobrang ibang-iba yung playing style. Marami akong natutunan sa game, sa tactics.”
Currently undergoing the mandatory quarantine after arriving in the country last Tuesday, March 23, Romero and the rest of the PHI candidates are set to train once again in a bubble setup in preparation for the 2021 SEA Games.
As a DLSU Lady Paddler, Romero looks forward to sharing her experiences from participating in international competitions to her teammates. “Para maka-help ako sa kanila. Nung last UAAP, hindi ako nakalaro dahil nag-LOA ako. Ang goal ko sa next UAAP is maka-help sa kanila and maging champion ulit.”
The third-year AB-SPM student-athlete has four more UAAP playing years.
