Crystal Cariño and Nicole Tabucol of the Philippines celebrate after winning against Bahrain during the bronze medal match of the Teqball Girls' Doubles in the 3rd Asian Youth Games on October 23, 2025 at the Exhibition World Bahrain. POC Media
The duo of Crystal Cariño and Nicole Tabucol delivered a surprise medal for the Philippines in the 3rd Asian Youth Games on Thursday.
The tandem from Pangasinan originally compete in sepak takraw, where they have gone as far as district meets.
But a switch to teqball led them to their first-ever international competition -- and a bronze medal, after they stunned home bets Rawan Abdulaziz and Fatima Albanna, 10-12, 12-10, 14-12, at the Exhibition World Bahrain in Sakhir.
"Ang expectations ko po wala po kaming makukuha kasi alam ko po malalakas ‘yung mga kalaban. Pero mayroon po pala kaming makukuha," said Tabucol.
Cariño, 15, and Tabucol, 17, originally represented the cin sepak takraw.
They were then referred to coach George Balanay, who was looking for new talents to train in teqball, a decade-old sport that is played on a curved table and combines elements of sepak takraw and tennis.
Playing the sport for only a couple of months, Tabucol said she did not think much about where teqball would take her.
"Hindi ko po in-expect na pupunta kami sa ibang bansa para sa Asian Youth Games," said Tabucol.
But with a medal on the line, Cariño and Tabucol seized the moment.
On the brink of defeat as the Bahrainis grabbed an 11-10 lead in the deciding set, the Filipina pair won four of the next five points, with Cariño delivering the medal-clinching attack.
Cariño and Tabucol broke into tears and hugged Balanay.
"Kabado po tapos noong nalaman namin na nanalo kami, sobrang saya po. Tears of joy," said Tabucol.