Fierce battle looms ahead in 11th Gullas Tennis Cup

An intense and exciting battle is expected to erupt when the 11th Gullas Tennis Cup comes off the wraps at 9 am tomorrow at the Cebu Country Club tennis courts.

"Like in the past years, it's going to be a very tough and exciting competition because all the top players in Vis-Min region are coming over to show their stuff and compete against Cebu's best," said tournament director Fritz Tabura.

"The out-of-towners are among the best in their respective places and for sure, they're all in top shape because they won't gamble in coming over here only to be booted out in the first round," added Tabura.

Tabura, who will be working hand in hand with former tennis whiz John Pages in running the biggest junior tilt in Visayas and Mindanao, is confident they could surpass last year's number of participants reaching to 140.

"We're expecting a huge turnout of entries this year. We have had lesser participants last year because that event coincided with the CVIRAA Meet and the Arafura Games. Besides, this is a PHILTA Group sanctioned event so we expect more players to come hopefully to earn points needed for their rankings," said Tabura.

Tabura said among the visiting netters to watch out for is Macy Solon of Dumaguete City's Silliman University, a member of the RP girls team that will see action in the 2006 Junior Davis Cup regional qualifying tournament from May 7-13 in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Queen City of the South, however, won't be left out with the likes of the decorated Siso siblings in Sally Mae and Bernardine "Niño, Jin Querubin, James Karl Cañete, Jacob Lagman, and John Francis Largo fighting for Cebu's pride and honor.

Largo is a member of the RP boys team to the Junior Davis Cup tilt slated from May 1 to 7 in Sarawak, Indonesia.

Aside from host Cebu and Dumaguete, top racquet-wielders from Manila, Cagayan de Oro, Bohol, Iligan, Davao, Tangub, Bacolod, Butuan, Dipolog, Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental and Maasin, Leyte are set to see action in the five-day contest set to wind up on the 27th.

Among the age classification to be featured are the 10-under unisex, boys and girls 12, 14, 16, and 18-under.

"This is the longest tennis tournament for the youth that we have developed," said University of the Visayas executive vice president and event backer Jose "Dodong" R. Gullas in a news conference yesterday at his UV office.

"Sir Eddie and I are very much involved in sports so we come to think that we have developed basketball (the UV Green Lancers), why don't we develop tennis?" added Gullas.

Eddie R. Gullas or simply Eddiegul, the current UV president and Cebu First District Representative, is Dodong's older brother.

Dodong Gullas said all the participants will receive a free t-shirt. Aside from trophies and gift certificates, the winners will also earn points needed for their individual rankings.

Registration fee is pegged at P200 per entry. For further details, interested parties may call Ging-Ging at 416-1122 or 0917-6303077 or visit Cebu Country Club.