Cebuano bets face tall order in Dunlop Visayas netfest

CEBU, Philippines - A tough battle looms ahead for the up and coming Cebuano netters as the Cebu leg of the 2012 Dunlop Visayas Junior Tennis Series drew a bunch of out-of-town and foreign entries this weekend at the newly-refurbished Cebu International Tennis Centre, Inc. (CITCI) tennis courts in Brgy. Laray, Consolacion.

Visayas leg organizer Mario Craiz said out-of-town participants came from Manila, Isabel and Tanauan, Leyte, Tacloban, Bohol and Cagayan de Oro.

Craiz added that two players from Taiwan and six from Hong Kong have also signed up for the event.

Despite the implementation of the "no PHILTA pin, no entry policy", the tournament is expected to attract a good number of entries based on the turnout of its initial leg held in Leyte early this month.

The pin ID serves as proof of membership with the Philippine Lawn Tennis Association (PHILTA), the country's governing body of the sport.

For those who are not yet PHILTA members, one has to pay P100 on top of the P300 registration fee.

Players have only until 4 pm today to register. The drawing of lots will follow right away to determine the order of play.

After Cebu, the Dunlop action will stage its third and final leg for the Visayas region on May 12-13 in Tubigon, Bohol. (FREEMAN)