The Palawan Pawnshop tennis series unveils two simultaneous tournaments Thursday, May 16, in Kalibo, Aklan and Ormoc City with both Group 2 tournaments attracting significant number of participants, highlighting the strong engagement in the country’s premier junior circuit.
The Tamagos Cup tournament at the Kalibo 1 courts boasts over 200 entries, led by Sandra Bautista and Maxene Panizales, who are both competing in the girls’ 16- and 18-and-under categories. Jann Ian Ituriaga leads the boys’ field in these top two divisions.
Top contenders in the girls’ 12- and 14-and-U categories are Theriz Zapatos and Michael Suarez, while Ciaran Alipo-on, Phine Billones and Drig Escobar are set to challenge top seed Francisco de Juan III in the boys’ 12-and-U division of the event serving as part of the PPS-PEPP circuit, organized by Palawan Pawnshop under the leadership of president/CEO Bobby Castro
De Juan is also vying in the 14-and-U side, which features top ranked John Rafael Santiago, Rizzjun Labindao and Alipo-on, while Abby Castigador, Kate Chavez, Arianne Tiongko and Arielle Opoc are among the key players in the youngest 10-and-under unisex division of the event sponsored by Tamagos Confectioneries.
The Kalibo tournament, originally scheduled for last week, was moved to accommodate the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA), according to event organizer Bobby Mangunay.
Simultaneously, fierce competition is expected at the Mayor Lucy Torres-Gomez tournament at the Ormoc Midtown court, with over 150 players competing for top honors and ranking points in the five-day tournament sanctioned by Philta and Universal Tennis and presented by Dunlop with support from ICON Golf and Sports.
In Ormoc, Ma. Niña Torrejos and Kate Imalay are set for intense battles in the girls’ 16- and 18-and-under divisions, while Christian Laguna leads the boys’ 16- and 18-and-U divisions, which include Renante Bravo, Jr., Gil Niere and Armik Serillo, along with Gerald Gemida, John Lambating and Bert Manlimos.
Ma. Caroliean Fiel, meanwhile, aims for a “twinkill” in the girls’ 12- and 14-and-U categories with Xyza Calagos and Chrystell Laguna challenging her in both divisions. In the boys’ 14-and-U division, Serillo is a strong contender against siblings Pete and Gil Niere, as well as James Estrella, while Pete Niere and Calagos banner the field in the 12-and-U division.
