Eight junior players get slots in main draw

Eight of the country’s promising juniors were given slots in the main draw of the P400,000 Philippine Columbian Association Tennis Championships slated Nov. 10-18 at the PCA indoor courts in Plaza Dilao, Paco, Manila.

Johan Guba, Ian de Guzman, Patrick John Tierro and Dino Ferrari, semifinalists in the PCA juniors tournament, will join national players Johnny Arcilla, Michael Mora III and Joseph Victorino in the main draw of the men’s division offering P100,000 to the singles champion.

Booking outright berths in the women’s category were Ivy de Castro, Bien Zoleta, Catherine Flores and Kristel Samal.

"We want to give our juniors the opportunity to test their skills against seasoned players so we decided to include them in the main draw," said PCA Open organizing committee chairman Philip Ycasiano.

Ycasiano added that players from Brunei, China, Chinese Taipei, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea have been invited to the Philta-sanctioned Group 2 event supported by Coca-Cola, Eastern Telecom, Wilson, Little Lawrence, PVL Restaurant and official ball Dunlop.

Players may register with Bobby Mangunay or Jeng Antaran at the PCA office (tels. 563-8501 and 562-9278). Deadline for submission of entry is Nov. 4 ,at 12 noon. Entry fee is P300. The three-day qualifying starts Nov. 6.