MAIQUEL Jawn "Mikee" Teh Selga of Davao City marks another milestone in her athletic career when she competes for Team Philippines in the 28th Southeast Asian (SEA) Games women's wakeboard competition at the Bedok Reservoir in Singapore next month.
The 15-year-old Grade 9 student of Stella Maris Academy of Davao is upbeat about her first-ever SEA Games stint, although she is the youngest entry in her event and the only girl in the Philippines wakeboard team.
"I feel excited and at the same time nervous. Excited po kasi SEA Games at nervous sa mga kalaban ko at kung ano po ang gagawin ko for the semi-finals and finals," Selga said in a interview.
She was earlier apprehensive about joining the team but she at last decided to give it a go, adding, "I just want to experience playing in the SEA Games. I was only undecided at first because I was busy in school but the president offered me to ride for them. I also want to experience wakeboard with a boat pulling me instead of a cable."
She started training with the national team at Taal Lake in Batangas last Sunday. Selga, however, admitted that being pulled by a boat is more difficult than using the cable. "Mas strong kasi ang boat at mas mabilis. Pero may nag-train naman sa akin."
The Dabawenya ace, who started learning the sport at the DECA Wakeboard Park Davao, is not keeping her hopes high as she would only want to focus on her game. "I would want a perfect run and clean. No falls and sketchy landings."
Januario Jesus Atencio, president and CEO of 8990 Housing Development Corporation that owns the Deca Wakeboard Park Davao, said: "We are happy for Mikee. We wish her well at the SEA Games."
Selga will have her hands full with seven other rivals vying for the women's wakeboard gold Rossi Ami and Galuh Mutiara Maulidina of Indonesia; Pattanan Pamonpol and Panyapa Tangsirirat of Thailand; Sasha Siew Hoon Christian and Jia Yi Gooi of Singapore; and Hsu Ann Cheah of Malaysia.
Completing the country's wakeboard team roster are Gelo Linao and Mark Griffin. They are set to leave for Singapore next week as the SEA Games is slated June 7 to 18.
Source: Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan of sunstar.com.ph/davao
