Senate commends Niño Alcantara, 1st Pinoy Australian Open champ

The Philippine Senate this week unanimously adopted a resolution commending the country's newest sports phenomenon, Francis Casey "Niño" Alcantara, the 17-year-old tennis protege from Cagayan de Oro who recently captured the Junior Boys Doubles crown of the Australian Open Tennis Championships.

Alcantara became the first Filipino to win a "Grand Slam" tennis tournament when he teamed up with Taiwan's Cheng-Peng Hsiehtoi to crush the tandem of Mikhal Biryukov of Russia and Yasutaka Uchiyama of Japan, 6-4, 6-2, and capture the junior boys doubles title last January 31.

The young netter's historic achievement was cited in Philippine Senate Resolution No. 860 authored by Senator Pia S. Cayetano, herself a sports enthusiast and avid supporter of budding Filipino athletes.

Alcantara, together with his trainers and coaching staff were present at the VIP gallery of the chamber as Cayetano read the resolution after it was unanimously approved in plenary last February 3.

The senators then took turns to shake hands and pose for souvenir photographs with Niño, including Senate President Juan Ponce Enrile, Senate Minority Leader Aquilino 'Nene' Pimentel Jr. who is also from Cagayan de Oro, and Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri of Bukidnon, where Alcantara traces his mother's roots.

"Niño's hard work, dedication, discipline, and sportsmanship sets a good example and is an inspiration for the Filipino people," Cayetano said in her resolution.

"The distinction that Alcantara brings home is a source of national pride and inspiration for our people and our nation, especially the youth."

Alcantara, who turned 17 only last Feb. 4, raised his International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior rankings from No.29 to No.18 following his conquest at the Australian Open. He achieved this status even while being a full-time senior high school student in Xavier University, thus being the only junior player in the world's top 30 still in school.