Pres Cup netfest unwraps Thursday

MANILA, Philippines - The Palawan Pawnshop age group tennis circuit resumes this week with the staging of the President’s Cup featuring the country’s leading juniors netters and rising stars at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat, Parañaque.

Jerome Romualdez, Stefan Suarez, Eric Olivarez and brothers Marcen and Cenon Gonzales prime up for a battle royale as they head the cast in the July 4-9 event, a Group 2 tournament sponsored by Philippine Tennis Association president and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

“We were overwhelmed by the huge turnout. By holding these kinds of tournaments, we hope to continue producing future spearheads of our national teams,” said Olivarez.

Raphael Teng, Jacob Martin, Marcus and Miguel del Rosario, Maverick Legaspi, Gelo Aparte and Diego and Julian Dayrit are the other players tipped to contend for the crowns in the boys’ division of the event, the last of three big tournaments held in honor of the Philta president. The first two were staged in Visayas and Mindanao.

Erika Manduariao and Mikaela Vicencio, meanwhile, banner the cast in the girls’ side of the event which also includes Melanie Faye Dizon, Maxine Martin, Bettina Bautista, Bea de Ocampo, Bettina Catoto, Chloe Mae Saraza and Johanna Capinpin.

Philta, in cooperation with Palawan Pawnshop and Technosports, distributor of Babolat equipment, has lined up a series of nationwide tournaments for the country’s young players, especially in the countryside.

“With Palawan Pawnshop and Technosports’ support, we have put up a series of tournaments in other regions as part of our commitment to help develop the sport and discover new talents,” said Olivarez.

Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro and Guillermo Nocom, president of Technosports, exclusive distributor of Babolat equipment, reiterated their support to Philta and tennis in their joint effort to help produce future national players.