Davao age group netfest unfolds

MANILA, Philippines - Davao takes its turn to host the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Regional age group tennis tournament presented by Technifibre with a huge field clashing for top honors in various divisions beginning today  at the GSIS-ECO 2 & 4 Tennis Club.

Close to 300 entries are entered in the nine-category event, the biggest thus far in the early going of the 38-stage nationwide circuit put up by the country’s leading pawnshop, remittance and claim center to help promote the sport and at the same time discover and train future members of the national pool.

A fierce battle looms in almost all categories with Shaira Rivera, Nicole Bautista, Rachel Velez and Krizzan Dumlao tipped to dispute the centerpiece girls’ 18-and-under crown and Abson Alejandre from Midsayap, Merwin Estrellado from Kidapawan, Andrei Pamplona from M’lang, and Cebu ace Jan Godfrey Seno expected to slug it out for the boys’ 18-U title.

“We expect another tight finish not only in the premier class but also in all the other categories, this being a Group 2 tournament with ranking points at stake,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.

Jerome Romualdez, twice foiled in the boys’ 16-U class by Ateneo’s Cenon Gonzales Jr., tries to make it to the top this time with Alejandre, Janus Ringia, Stephen Tubbs, Cyrin Martinez and Estrellado looming as his chief contenders.

Players from other parts of Mindanao are also listed in the third leg of the circuit sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez.