Philta to stage local, international tilts

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Tennis Association yesterday vowed to stage more local and international tournaments to give the Filipino players, especially the youth, the venue where they could hone their talent and skills and at the same time help develop the sport.

“I will do my best to help tennis in the country, perhaps with more tournaments, local and international,” said new PTA president Edwin Olivarez during induction ceremonies attended by top sports officials, including Philippine Olympic Committee president Jose Cojuangco Jr., Philippine Sports Commission chair Richie Garcia and commissioner Chito Loyzaga, at the Century Park Hotel.

The other Philta officials, who will serve until 2014, are Ajay Pathak (vice-president-junior), Edna Olivarez-Nguyen (treasurer) and Romeo Magat (secretary-general).

“Mr. Olivarez, I hope we’ll do everything to be No. 1 in tennis again,” Cojuangco told Olivarez, a Parañaque congressman.

Among the tournaments lined up this year are the Asia-Oceania Davis Cup Group 1 tie from March 3-5 in Lapu Lapu City, Cebu, the Federation Cup, Junior Davis Cup, Mitsubishi International Junior Tennis Championships and the SEA Games on Nov. 11-25 in Indonesia.