Congratulations are in order for Daniel Padilla and Neil Coleta for bagging the top prize at the men's doubles badminton competition during the Star Magic 30th All-Star Games on Sunday, May 22, 2022,
Loud cheers from Daniel's fans erupted at the Araneta Coliseum after the duo scored their winning point against former Pinoy Big Brother housemate Chico Alicaya and singer Poppert Bernadas.
In an interview after the match, Daniel was asked about their strategy to win the championship trophy and quipped, "Sabi ko, Neil ikaw nang bahala!"
In an interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) and other members of the press after the badminton games, Daniel revealed he and Neil trained under badminton champ Kennie Asuncion, who was previously ranked the country's number one female badminton athlete.
Daniel said, "Wala kaming sport na puwede kaming maglaro pareho so pumasok kami kay Coach Kennie Asuncion, mga champions natin, di ba?
"Nag-train kami, so may sport na kami. Dun nagsimula."
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Daniel had only recently resumed playing badminton owing to the surge of COVID-19's Omicron variant in January 2022.
Good thing this did not affect the performance of the two actors at the Star Magic. games.
Daniel said, "Siyempre masaya dahil trinabaho din namin yun, dahil ang tagal ko huminto nung nagkaroon ng Omicron.
"Tumigil kaming matagal, so itong past two weeks, palo kami nang palo para bumalik lang yung kaba."
A member of the press also asked Daniel how his passion for badminton started.
Daniel recalled, "Bata pa ako, kahit saan pumunta nanay ko kasama ako. So nung bata ako, kalaro niya, dati mga Star Olympics pa, di ba? Before mga ganun pa.
"'Tapos pag nagte-training si ermats, may mga kalaro siya, sumasama lang ako, nanonood na ako sa kanya ever since.
"Ngayon, hindi [siya] makapalo nang maigi kasi na-ACL [anterior cruciate ligament, jnee injury] yung ermats ko."
Meanwhile, Daniel will be going on a vacation today, May 23, 2022, with his girlfriend Kathryn Bernardo in celebration of their 10th anniversary as a couple.
Daniel said, "Si Kathryn, nandun sa somewhere ngayon... Somewhere only we know. Secret lang. Nandun na siya ngayon, pero tomorrow, susunod ako.
"Kailangan ko lang talaga siyempre mag-represent sa [games].
"For anniversary namin, magte-10 year anniversary na kami, so... sa May 25."
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