Nica Alanis and Kurt Molina seek up to live to their billing when the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Iriga leg regional age group tennis tournament gets going today at the University of St. Anthony Tennis courts in Camarines Sur.
Alanis, from Iriga City, hopes to stamp her class against the likes of Patricia Corporal, Angela Cortez, Jasmine Prima and Katrina Salvadora in the premier 18-under division while Molina, from Daet, Camarines Norte, braces for an uphill battle in the boys’ side of the Group 4 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger.
Keen competition is also seen in the other categories of the five-day event backed by Asiatraders Corp. and the new Unified tennis group, led by PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s and B-Meg with Jenard Gonzales and Corporal heading the 16-U cast in both sides, JC Gonzales and Glydel Guevarra bannering the 14-U roster, and Mario Corea and Guevarra looming as the players to beat in the 12-U section.
Raymond Corporal, Sabion Sabio, Nicole Monte and Lyka Idioma, on the other hand, are tipped to dispute the 10-unisex crown.
“With over 220 entries, we expect a lot of surprises and new faces to emerge,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/COO Bobby Castro, who reiterated the company’s continuing support to help develop the sport and produce future national champions through its year-long, nationwide circuit.
Meanwhile, another huge field braces for the next leg in Naga City on July 14-17, according to PPS-PEPP sports program development director Bobby Mangunay. Listup is ongoing. For details, call 0915-4046464.
