The team of Barrientos and So became the nation’s pride when they helped win a combined total of 18 medals including 6 golds in the Southeast Asian Games in 1991 and 1993. In 1991, both also saw action in Davis Cup competitions winning the Asian Zone by beating tough teams as China and Japan before losing to Cup holders Sweden in the elite World Group.

THE PHILIPPINE TENNIS ASSOCIATION, THE ATF & THE ITF

The need for establishing an international tennis federation became obvious in 1911 when lawn tennis was beginning to develop rapidly worldwide. It seemed natural that National Tennis Associations already established should come together to form a liaison whereby the universal game would be uniformly structured. The International Lawn Tennis Federation (ILTF) had quite humble beginnings as representatives from twelve countries gathered in Paris on the 1^st of March 1913. From those deliberations came the world governing body for tennis. From the twelve nations that started, it has drown to the present-day family bonded together by the love of a wonderful sport to over 150 members. The word "Lawn" was dropped some years ago as tennis exploded in popularity since the arrival of Open Tennis. The ITF has an extensive program of coaches’ education that continues to expand all over the world, as well as officiating seminars that has been in full force to produce better geographical balance between tournaments and officials. Besides Davis Cup and Federation Cup, the ITF administers numerous international events such as the Men’s Satellite Circuits, Women’s Futures Circuit, ITF Juniors, World Youth Cup, ITF Veterans and Wheelchair Tennis.

The Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) was founded in 1964 in Manila. The ATF provides international championships such as the Asian Tennis Championships, University Games, Asian Team Championships, Asian Juniors and Asian Veterans. The current ATF President, Mr. Eiichi Kawatei have been instrumental in having cultivated the member nations to a total of 40 Asian tennis associations for the past few decades. Asia has now become an important region of global tennis championships.

The Philippine Tennis Association joined the ITF in 1946. Major Albert Nossun was founder and first President of PHILTA, followed by Lt. Col. C. Brakefield in 1947. The first Filipino PHILTA President was Dr. Vicente Limson, who headed the organization from 1948 to 1950. Dr. Jose Barcelona in 1951; Guillermo Jose, Sr. in 1952; Mel Mathay, Sr. in 1952; and Don Manolo Elizalde. Past presidents also included distinguished personalities Delfin Gonzales, Bert Quiros del Rio, Eduardo Bella, Gen. Antonio Tamayo, Col. Marcelino Barba and Dr. Pablo Olivarez.

The present PHILTA administration headed by Pres. Col. Salvador H. Andrada and expert management by EVP Manuel D. Misa, a shipping executive, have become instrumental in promoting the ITF Development programs for the past ten years despite limited resources. Andrada was a recipient of the Awards for Services of the Game by the ITF the previous years. Recently, Mr. Ajay Pathak, a PHILTA official & consultant was given the same award for Long and Distinguished Service to Tennis as Administrator of Davis Cup Ties during the ITF convention in Scotland in July, 1995. Together with PHILTA Tournament Director, Mr. Armando Manzano, Pathak have become a favorite allies of the ITF, players, officials and administrators. With 27 years of