Palawan netfest draws banner field

MANILA, Philippines - Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala resumes its regional age group tennis tournament tomorrow with the top and rising junior players from the provinces ready to slug it out with the Big City bets at the Celebrity Sports Club in QC.

Organizers are expecting over 500 participants to see action in the singles matches alone in the six-day ranking tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association and held as part of the country’s leading pawnshop, remittance and claim center’s 30th anniversary celebrations.

“The top players and rising stars in various provinces are eager to pit their skills and talents against the leading Manila-based netters,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro. “This makes the tournament all the more interesting.”

The field has grown so big that the organizers had to tap the MWSS LWUA Veterans Tennis Club and the Pilarville Tennis Club as alternate venues of the event, a Philta-sanctioned Group 2 tournament presented by Technifibre.

“This is a record of sorts since we haven’t gathered so many players as this one in a junior tournament in Manila. This only underscores their trust and confidence in the PPS-PEPP tennis program,” said Philta president and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

Mart Cabahug from Tubod, Lanao, who ruled the 18-U section in the recent Olivarez Cup, and runner-up Allen Gerry Manlangit from Iligan City head the crack roster of provincial bets vying in the event along with Cagayan de Oro’s Dave Mosqueda, Christian Fel Lopez of Davao, Vincent Alanis from Naga City, Bicol, Jonas Silva from Olongapo and AJ Alejandre from Cotabato City.

Others competing in the 10-unisex, and boys’ and girls’ 12-, 14-, 16- and 18-U categories are Luis and Patrick Salvacion from Lucena City, Marc Andre Jarata and Alexie Jarata from Agoo, La Union, Eurydice Gaspar from Nueva Ecija, Klyde Lagarde from Gen. Santos, Miguel and Mikaela Vicencio from Bulacan, Nicole Bautista from Malita, Davao and Raian Aquino from Mindoro.

The provincial bets are backed by their respective LGUs in the event which also drew the participation of Bea and Recee Acena from Dubai.

Miles Vitaliano is also in the fold, priming up for the WTA Future Stars in Singapore in October. She heads the cast in the girls’ 14-and-under division along with top seed Mikaela Vicencio, No. 3 Denise Bernardo, Lourdes Pe, Bea de Ocampo and Macie Carlos.

Vitaliano is also listed in the 16-U roster led by Rafaella Villanueva, Chloe Saraza, Nicole Bautista, Bettina Bautista, Mikaela Vicencio, Jhastine Ballado and Mae Perez.