‘Flyin’ Hawaiian’ boosts Mitsubishi tennis cast

After Cecil Mamiit and Eric Taino, the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) should also take a closer look at another Fil-Am netter in Dennis Lajola.

Currently one of the best players in the United States in his age bracket, Lajola, who turned 16 last Feb. 12, is another Fil-Am the country should watch out for as he struts his wares today at the start of the 16th Mitsubishi ITF Junior Tennis Championships at the Rizal Memorial Coliseum.

The 5-foot-7 Lajola, nicknamed the "Flyin’ Hawaiian," is currently tops in his age bracket in the United States Tennis Association rankings and has represented the US in the Davis Cup age group last year and has won the consolation championship of the USTA National Junior Open held in Oahu also last year.

The Aiea lad also trained under the prestigious Bollettieri Tennis Academy in Florida where he transferred from Iolani School in Hawaii on a full scholarship. The BTA is widely regarded as the No.1 tennis school in the world that has produced such names like sisters Venus and Serena Williams, Andre Agassi and Pete Sampras.

Although the annual tuition in the academy would usually cost one some $30,000, or roughly P1.6 million, a year, Lajola isn’t paying since he’s on a full scholarship from sports agency IMG.

IMG, which represents the Williams sisters, has since hooked up Lajola with sponsorship deals with Wilson and Adidas. Not bad for a kid who started playing the game with his brother — Derrick, now playing for the University of Hawaii — at the age of four to kill time while his father Dado took on all comers at the local park.