12th Gullas Tennis Cup reset earlier

The 12th Gullas Cup, the longest running junior tennis tournament in the country, has been reset from April 14 to 18 at the Cebu Country Club (CCC) and Casino Español de Cebu tennis courts.

Tournament director John Z. Pages said the event was originally scheduled from April 18 to 22 but they decided to move it earlier to accommodate the players who will be competing in the 2007 Palarong Pambansa on April 22 to 29 in Koronadal, South Cotabato.

"We're holding the tournament earlier than the original schedule so that the players who will compete in the Palaro would be able to take part in the Gullas Cup action," said Pages, himself a diehard tennis buff.

Pages said they are expecting at least 150 netters from all over the country to show their stuff in the biggest tennis event in the Vis-Min region bankrolled by the Gullas family through the efforts of University of the Visayas (UV) executive vice president Jose "Dodong" R. Gullas.

Now on its 12th year, the Gullas Cup has produced many champions who shone among the brightest junior stars in the country in the mold of Berry Sepulveda, the Dumoran brothers James and Oswaldo, Janji Soquiño, and Babaw Tiongko to name a few.

"The Gullas Cup has built a name for itself not only in the Visayas but also in the country because even players from Manila will put it in their calendar of events every year," said Pages.

"Apart from their love for sports, the Gullas family has supported this event because they have been tennis enthusiasts for years. They want to continue their support to tennis and the kids are their main thrust because they're the ones who have the potential to become champions in the future," added Pages.

Being a Group 2 Philippine Lawn Tennis Association (PHILTA)-sanctioned event, the top performing players will earn points needed for their individual rankings.

The categories to be featured in the four-day contest are the 10-under unisex, boys and girls 12, 14, 16, and 18-under.

Among the local tennis sensations to watch out for are the Siso siblings Sally Mae and Bernardine "Niño", Jacob Lagman, Vince Mark "Macmac" Tabo-Tabo, John Francis Largo, James Karl Cañete, Jin Querubin, Larry Antigua, and Ryan Repunte.

They will be challenged by a strong field of out-of-town opposition coming from Manila, Cagayan de Oro, Bohol, Bais, Iligan, Davao, Bacolod, Butuan, Dipolog, Budkidnon and Maasin. Gullas Cup souvenir t-shirts will be given away to all the participants, while the different category winners will receive trophies, gift certificates and other freebies.

Pages said right after the Gullas Cup, the Prince Tennis Age-Group Championships will be staged still at the Cebu Country Club.

For registration and further details on the Gullas Cup, interested parties may keep in touch with Gingging at (032) 416-1122 local 100.