A Filipino proverb reads: ‘if you persevere, you will reap the fruits of your labour’. When considering the saying through the prism of the Philippines and their relationship with ITF World Junior Tennis then perhaps there is more than an element of truth.

The Philippines have not featured at the competition’s Finals since 2003 when their boys qualified, but are among 25 nations contesting the junior tennis extravaganza in the Czech Republic after their girls’ team finished top of the pile in Asia/Oceania qualifying.

Irrespective of history, the Philippines, who are set to be seeded for the tournament, will take their place on the clay of the TK Plus Centre as one of the 16 best girls’ sides from across the world in the 14 and under age category.

Their flight from Manila to Vienna formed only part of a 27-hour door-to-door journey which sapped energy but not spirits, and as the Philippines prepared for their first practice session, their satisfaction at having the chance to compete at the Finals was abundantly clear.

Not since 1993 has a Philippines girls’ team been present at the business end of ITF World Junior Tennis competition.

“We are very proud and extremely excited,” Philippines captain Czarina Mae Arevalo told itftennis.com. “When we were checking into the hotel, that’s when it sunk in and we thought: ‘we are at the Finals’.

“We didn’t expect to win Asia/Oceania qualifying, our goal was just to qualify. We were close a few years ago and just missed out. For someone like Alexandra Eala, this is her fourth ITF World Junior Tennis campaign, so she has been waiting for this moment.

“The team is ecstatic and very happy. We secured our place here a few months ago but as soon as we met at the airport, that same emotion and excitement we felt back then returned immediately.”

The Philippines, along with every team at the tournament, will learn their fate this evening at the draw ceremony, during which the 16 girls’ teams will be placed into four groups. Play begins in earnest on Monday, with each side aiming to secure a place in the quarter-finals by finishing in the top two slots in their respective groups.

By her own admission, Arevalo was not expecting the Philippines to dispatch all before them during qualifying, but having finished ahead of Japan, China and Korea, she sees no reason why her charges cannot progress to the knockout stages and beyond.

“We just had a team meeting about our goals, which is first and foremost about trying to be in the top eight,” said Arevalo. “We don’t know what to expect in terms of players and level of competition, but we will give 100 per cent and enjoy the experience. Reaching the quarter-finals would be really pleasing.

“During qualifying, I was expecting Alexandra [Eala] to win all of her matches and then have to work especially hard in the doubles, but the other girls [Alexa Joy Milliam and Jenaila Rose Prulla] have shown they have heart and can step up.”

Arevalo’s sentiments are echoed by Eala, who first represented the Philippines in ITF World Junior Tennis aged 11. She said: “This is an amazing experience for the Philippines and we are all so happy. We’re trying to set small goals first. We want to win, of course, and we will do our best, but we will try and achieve those small goals first and go from there.”

Having proven their capacity for breaking new ground and acting as trailblazers for those nations not regularly represented on the international stage, Arevalo is eyeing the Philippines presence in the Finals being commonplace, more of a rule than exception.

“It has been a long time since we got into the Finals and this is a chance for tennis in the Philippines,” she added. “This group can inspire youngsters to work hard and be just like them and eventually be here. We have proven that it’s not impossible. This group have shown things are possible.”