15 I 40

PCA Swing

Accepting orders nationwide! Message our FB or IG page for any inquiries 🎾

After 3 long years, the biggest tennis tournament in the country, The PCA Open, is back in action! The 15 | 40 Team has created 2 shirt designs to celebrate this historic tournament.

Now accepting orders nationwide! Message our FB or IG page for any inquiries. 🎾

Biggest lesson tennis has taught you?

We’ve always been a tennis family — I was watching my brothers play and picking up balls until I started competing when I was 9. From then on, I continue to learn from the sport we all grew to love.

When I was just starting, I was easily discouraged by many things mentally and physically. Tennis taught me to persevere — to keep moving forward. With discipline, I try to learn from my mistakes and constantly improve and always do my best. Lastly, tennis taught me how to be patient— keeping the ball in play while waiting for the right opportunity to take control in every point.

While I don’t play competitively anymore, tennis continues to shape my life both on and off the court. I hope I can continue inspiring others to keep playing tennis and hopefully, they see how great this sport can influence their life as it did mine.

Irwin de Guzman
Former Ranked #1 18-under
Former Jr. Davis Cup
UAAP MVP (2008)
UAAP Rookie of the Year (2003)

Why do you like playing tennis?

It took me a while to answer this for some reason, but at first I thought I was just influenced by my family, even though I am really enjoying the game. But throughout the years, I just realized now that this game has taught me so many lessons about life such as dealing with pressure, being disciplined, facing your fears, handling failures and defeats, confidence, working hard and smart and many more, which helps me grow as a person.

Leander Lazaro
#5 Men's Singles Career High
2x UAAP MVP
4x UAAP Champion
Former #1 Age Grouper

When we started the interview, the first thing Pia told me was, “Of course you can’t talk about tennis without talking about everyone that came before you.”

I hope she knows that there wouldn’t have been as many players after her without her leading the way.

Read her story here: https://fifteenfortyph.com/2022/06/17/the-pioneer-pia-tamayo/

Article by: Mae Coyiuto
Graphic by: Gio Abcede

Pia Tamayo felt the weight on her shoulders from how big the sport was in the country. In the late ‘70s, tennis was only second to basketball.

Yet even in this golden era of the sport, Pia still managed to kickstart something new and became the first female from the Philippines to attend college in the US to play for a tennis team.

Learn more about her time at Princeton in our latest article!

https://fifteenfortyph.com/2022/06/17/the-pioneer-pia-tamayo/

Article by: Mae Coyiuto
Graphic by: Gio Abcede

In 1981, Pia Tamayo became the first Filipino to win a gold medal in singles from the Southeast Asian Games. But no matter how far I went in my Internet deep-dive, I could only find a handful of articles that mentioned her career.

“There’s nothing on me,” Pia said, laughing. She even called up her former coach, Macky Dominguez, to tell him that she would be having her first interview about tennis since the 1981 SEA Games.

In our latest 15|40 article, we cover Pia Tamayo's trailblazing career.

The Pioneer Pia Tamayo - 15 | 40 As the first Filipino to win a gold medal in singles from the Southeast Asian Games, Pia Tamayo is a pioneer in Philippine tennis. She tells us all about her career in her first tennis interview since her 1981 win.

After his last chemo treatment, the oncologist told Karl that he’d have to get regular check-ups until his 15th year. Her other constant reminder was to tell his future partner that there’d be a chance he would be unable to have children.

As of writing this article, it’s been 25 years since his cancer diagnosis. Karl is now married with two daughters and has since been cancer-free.

Read the full story in our latest 15 | 40 article!

Article by:
Graphic by:

At seventeen years old and at the height of his junior tennis career, Karl Santamaria was diagnosed with testicular cancer. His first thought when he heard the diagnosis: "When can I play tennis again?"

Read the full story in our latest 15 | 40 article!

Article by:
Graphic by:

After his last treatment, the oncologist told Karl that he’d have to take regular blood tests and check-ups until his 15th year. Her other constant reminder was to tell his future partner that there’d be a chance he would be unable to have children.

As of writing this article, it’s been 25 years since his cancer diagnosis. Karl is now married with two daughters and has since been cancer-free.

In our latest 15 | 40 article, we cover the amazing journey of player and coach, Karl Santamaria!

Making that One Shot Count - 15 | 40 With his winning record in both UST and NU, Karl Santamaria is one of the most successful tennis coaches in UAAP history. But before his coaching career, Karl started off as a player––with a story that’s even more inspiring than his 22 titles.

15 | 40 Health & Fitness series 2/6
by .eats 🥪

Protein Packed Chickpea Tuna Sandwich 🤩😋
- 1 cup chickpeas/tuna, rinsed & mashed (with a fork)
- 1 tbsp tahini
- 1/2 tbsp maple syrup
- 1 tsp apple cider vinegar/or just plain vinegar
- 1 tsp dijon mustard
- Pinch of salt and pepper
- 1/2 - 1 tbsp lemon juice
- Handful of chopped tomatoes

Optional:
- 1 tbsp chopped celery
- 1 tbsp chopped guindillas OR any peppers for spice

Mix all the ingredients together 💟
Place on your favorite bread and add some avocado, lettuce, sprouts, and even some pickled onion! 🥳