Instead of eyeing to become a Philippine top women’s tennis player and represent the country in several international tournaments, Sally Mae Siso, a former Cebuano top junior netter, opted to coach in Japan.
Despite showing great potential after dominating all her competitions both local and national when she was still an age grouper, as of the moment, she finds it more fulfilling being a coach.
“I am happy with what I am doing right now. I find it fulfilling sharing what I know about Tennis to my Japanese student,” said Siso.
Siso also shared her experiences working in Japan, such as the challenges, trials, and learnings that made her who she is today.
“The challenges are one, the language. We need to study Nihongo, because the Japanese don’t speak English. Two is how Japanese teach tennis. They teach differently. They teach like we are in a university; they are more on analysis. Three is that I am away from my Mama Sally and Ate Yan Yan. Four is the culture. Japanese are very polite, kind, prim and proper. I need to blend in with them, or else I won’t be accepted. It was really interesting. I really learned a lot from the Japanese,” Siso said.
With Japan producing several tennis players that we’re able to compete in several prestigious tournaments such as the Olympics, US Open,Wimbledon Championships, among others, Siso sees an opportunity learning how Japanese teach tennis and for her to be able to share what she have learned to the Cebuano community someday or invite rising junior netters to Japan to train for short training programs.
However, as of the moment they haven’t planned yet for short training programs but their school is always open to Cebuanos.
“We are open not only for competitive players but also for recreational players. Some of my friends came to Japan for vacation, and I let them experience how we teach, and they said it was really different”, Siso said.
Siso is overwhelmed to hear that there are a lot of rising stars in Cebu like Tiffany Nocos because they keep tennis alive for our youngsters.
“I hope they continue to practice hard and aim for professional tennis. There are also tennis clubs and tennis companies like Citigreen Tennis Resort that is always there to keep tennis alive in Cebu,” she said.
“I am so amazed at how they make tennis events more interesting and fun for the players. Citigreen always amazes me. Just like their punch line: ‘experience the difference’,”she added.
For now, she doesn’t have plans to go back to Cebu but it depends if her mom would ask her to go back.
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