Big field seen in B Pinoy soft tennis tilt

MANILA, Philippines - Soft tennis hopes to draw another banner field with the staging of the Visayas qualifying leg of the Batang Pinoy 2013 on Sept. 24-28 in Maasin City, Southern Leyte.

Soft tennis officials conducted a series of clinics in the next Batang Pinoy host city last month with Maasin City Mayor Maloney Samaco confident that the fast-rising sport will lure a big number of participants, especially in the elementary level.

“My sports department is all-out in its support to soft tennis in the Batang Pinoy here in Maasin City and we expect a big number of players to compete,” said Mayor Samaco.

National players, led by World Cup bronze medalist Joseph Arcilla, held a demo on the sport during the Philippine Olympic Committee fitness program last August at the Philsports Arena. The coaching staff also conducted soft tennis lessons in Maasin City recently.

Mayor Samaco said they are guaranteeing a stellar field in the Olympic-style 15-under tournament with the top performers expected to gain berths in the national pool.

In the event’s kickoff leg in Tagum City last month, Prince Jay Bernaldez and Earl Bestes of Mati City blanked Jay-ar Pilar and Arel John Manligas of Davao del Norte, 5-0, to bag the boys’ doubles crown while Maria Bestes and Mary Jane Bestes, also of Mati City, routed Clarizza Caorte and Dana Abad of Davao City, to pocket the girls’ doubles plum.

On hand during the awards rites were Philippine Sports commissioners Jolly Gomez and Akiko Thomson-Guevara and Philippine Soft Tennis Association vice president for Mindanao Ali Serquina.

PSTA president and Myanmar SEA Games chief of mission Col. Jeff Tamayo also congratulated all 56 players and the other winners, including boys’ singles champion Bernaldez, who beat Earl Bestes, 4-2, and girls’ singles titlist Caorte, who trounced Abad, 4-1.