Over 200 entries gear up for another spirited battle for top honors in various divisions as the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age-group tennis circuit winds up its 2016 season at the Brookside Hills Tennis Club in Cainta, Rizal starting Monday.
Mikaela Vicencio and Cenon Gonzales Jr. head the centerpiece 18-and-under cast that features the country’s leading junior players who remain in shape during the holiday season to vie for honors and ranking points in the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger.
“We commend our age groupers for their effort to stay in top shape all-year which only inspires to continue providing them tournaments week-in, week-out throughout the year,” said Bobby Castro, president/CEO of Palawan Pawnshop, the chief backer of the country’s premier age-grouper, which also features a number of Open tournaments.
Joining Vicencio in the roster are Bettina Bautista, Jhastine Ballado and Lila Salvacion while out to crowd Gonzales in the boys’ side of the five-day tournament sanctioned by Philta and backed by Asiatraders Corp., exclusively distributor of Slazenger, are Kurt Molina, Klyde Lagarde and Wilfred Bentillo.
For details, contact PPS-PEPP Regional Age Group Tennis Event organizer and Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.
Vicencio is also entered in the 16-U class as second seed with Miles Vitaliano as the top ranked player and Blanche Lagrisola, Ballado, Gab Zoleta and Patricia Lim also tipped to contend for the crown.
Zoleta, on the other hand, topbills the 14-U division that also lured Justine Maneja, Kryshana Brazal and Kaye Emana with Brazal and Emana heading the 12-U class that also includes Ella Emana and Melody Dizon.
Lagarde, meanwhile, banners the boys’ 16-U division along with No. 2 Wilfred Bentillo, third seed Athan Arejola, No. 4 Angelo Aparte and Kurt Molina as fifth seed while Miguel Vicencio gains the top seeding in the 14-U group that also includes Jose Martin Buenaventura, Ross Perpetua, Daniel Estanislao III and Lajon Gonzaga.
Gonzaga, meanwhile, is the player to beat in the 12-U class along with Thomas Bernardo, Kidlat Estogero and Darwin Cosca while a fierce battle is seen in the 10-unisex side, headed by Joshua Diva, Mica Emana, Darwin Cosca and Estogero.