PSC-Philta age group tennis gets going

MANILA, Philippines - The fifth PSC-Philta National age-group tennis tournament unwraps today with 54 matches on tap at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center with the field bannered by the country’s leading junior tennis players and upcoming stars chasing top honors and ranking points.

Alexandra Sy and Dylan Jimenez kick off the busy opening of the five-day tournament as they clash in the 10-unisex section starting at 8 a.m. along with the matches pitting Kidlat Estgero vs Tomas Bernardo, Edgardo Angara versus Micheal Belo, Justine Maneja versus Mateo Carlos, Christian Ruanta against Hailey Agustin and Kryshana Brazal versus Allysa Rosales.

Action in the centerpiece boys’ 18-and-under division of the Group 1 tournament sponsored by the Philippine Sports Commission and backed by Asiatraders, Corp. for the Dunlop Fort All Court Balls starts at 10 a.m. with Paolo So taking on Marraphael Teng, Aidyll Ignacio facing Jeremiah Macias, Manuel Balce III squaring off with Ricarte Santos, Kurt Molina battling Mark Chapa, Emmanuel Fuellas testing the mettle of Miguel del Rosario and Kyle Joseph going up against Michael Tan.

Other events on tap in the tournament held in honor of Philippine sports commissioner Buddy Andrada are the girls’ 18-U and the boys’ and girls’ 12-, 14- and 16-under categories. Also to be disputed are the doubles titles in the boys’ and girls’ 10-U, 14-U and 18-U sections.

The winners in singles play will earn 100 ranking points with the second and third placers to gain 150 and 100 points while the doubles champion will get 150 points.

Bannering the girls’ 18-U division, ruled by Maia Balce last year, are Nikki Ong, Colleen Sioson, Shaira Rivera and Frances Santiago while John Bryan de Casa, Marcen Gonzales, Andrew Cano and Vincent Alanis are tipped to dispute the boys’ 18-U title won by Dave Mosqueda last year.