Velez seeks PPS-PEPP Kidapawan title repeat

MANILA, Philippines – Patricia Velez gears up for a tough outing as she defends her crown in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional tennis circuit presented by Slazenger unfolding today at the Kidapawan City Tennis Club in Cotabato.

Velez will be hard-pressed to match her straight set upset win over top seed Nicole Bautista last year with the likes of Carlyn Guarde, Jazzelle Madis, Harlyn Getalla, Angelica Novis and Febe Lagarde all primed up for a crack at the premier girls’ 18-and-under crown in the Group 2 tournament hosted by Kidapawan City Mayor Joseph Evangelista.

The Davao ace will also be trying to atone for her failed bid in the 16-U section as she joins Guarde, Madis, Minette Bentillo of Sultan Kudarat, Novis, Getalla and Lagarde in what promises to be a spirited chase for the crown in the five-day Group 2 tournament serving as the fourth leg of the PPS-PEPP circuit backed by Asiatraders Corp., exclusive distributor of Slazenger, the official ball of the circuit.

“We expect a fierce battle, not only in the 16- and 18-U classes, but in all divisions with the region’s top and upcoming players seeking not only the titles but also ranking points,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

“I invite all tennis fans and aficionados to watch and support our annual tournament and we thank Palawan Pawnshop for its continued support to uplift the level of the sport here and at the same time help in discovering future talents,” said Evangelista.

Gen. Santos City’s Klyde Lagarde, meanwhile, moves up to the boys’ 16-U class, hoping to bring his winning form after dominating top seed Wilfred Bentillo in last year’s 14-U finals. Bentillo is also entered in the 16-U section, along with Janus Ringia, Marco Barrios, Kyle Singh, Steve Aton, Nicole Gorospe, local bet Eric Comendador and Merwin Estrellado, guaranteeing a highly charged battle for supremacy.

Bentillo and Ringia will also be vying in the 18-U category topbilled by Jefferson Alqueza and Lordrene Pacheco while John Velez, Eric Comendador, JV Comendador, Benjamin Ringia, Kurt Haro, Cedric Pamplona, Brent Magno and Aton head the 32-player 14-U field.

Meanwhile, listup for the fifth leg in Consolaction Cebu on Feb. 4-8, also a Group 2 event, is ongoing. For details, call tournament organizer and supervisor Bobby Mangunay, also the PPS-PEPP sports program development director, at 0915-4046464 or log on to www.palawanpawnshoptennis.com.