PUTTING things in order within the tennis community and coming up with as many tournaments as possible will be the thrust of lawyer Antonio Cablitas in the coming year.
Cablitas, who is President Rodrigo Duterte’s adviser on investments, will do so as the new president of the Philippine Tennis Association.
The 68-year-old Cablitas got the go-signal following talks this week with Salvador Andrada, who turned the reins over to him following elections held last June 9.
“For the next year, I will hold tournaments all over the country in the age group level,” said Cablitas, who hopes that this will get the ball rolling in their quest for unity within the tennis community.
As much as possible, Cablitas hopes that there will be 12 tournaments each in Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao.
After that competitions can be planned out in the summer.
Cablitas discussed his plans with members of the board, which includes Andrada, and secretary general Romeo Magat.
The road to recognition from the International Tennis Federation is now in the works after Cablitas met with ITF president David Haggerty last November in Ho Chi Minh City.
The International Tennis Federation said it has informed the board of trustees of the Philta and the Philippine Olympic Committee of their decision last Oct. 20 that they are still recognizing Paranaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez as president.
Since Olivarez resigned in 2016, the leadership of Philta has been bitterly disputed by the groups of Col. Salvador Andrada and businessman-sportsman Jean Henri Lhuillier.
The hand of reconciliation has also been offered to Lhuillier, who has continuously questioned the ongoing leadership of Philta.
“I have talked to Lhuillier three times. They have protested (my leadership),” said Cablitas.