The PPS-PEPP national age-group tennis circuit continues to draw record participants as action shifts to Luzon beginning Tuesday (July 5) with 336 entries clashing for top honors in eight age categories at the Sta. Rosa Sports Complex courts in Laguna.
Three groups in the boys’ division drew 64-player field each with Andrew Coladilla, Joshua Diva, Samuel Davila and Lloyd Carasco headlining the 16-U class and Marwin Plata, Karl Alvarez, Rafael Llira and Jaime Reyes leading the 14-U category.
Tipped to dispute the 12-U crown in the week-long event, sponsored by Sta. Rosa, Laguna Mayor Arlene Arcillas, are Julio Naredo, Pablo Olivarez III, Dean Palaroan and Antonio Santillan.
The cast in the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop is more than the last PPS-PEPP event in Davao two weeks ago, underscoring the continued growth of the sport in the country’s longest talent-search put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
Originally slated over six days, organizers have added two extra days to accommodate the record number of entries, according to PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay.
Meanwhile, the Olivarez Sports Center in Parañaque, Sucat will host the next leg on July 13-18 before the circuit moves to Apalit, Pampanga on July 22-30. For listup and details, contact Mangunay at 0915-4046464.
Marc Jarata and John David Velez, meanwhile, brace for a spirited duel for the 18-U trophy with Exequiel Jucutan, Thomas Bernardo, Mateo Rivas, Andrew Serohijos, Kian Sulit and Joshua Diva also all primed up in the premier division of the event supported by ProtekTODO, PalawanPay, the Unified Tennis Philippines and UTR (Universal Tennis Rating).
The chase for top honors in the girls’ side is also expected to be fierce with Kimi Brodeth, Marielle Jarata and siblings Kaye-Ann and Mica Emana bannering the 18-U division with Brodeth and Jarata also in the 16-U class led by top seed Nicole Diaz along with Therese Gauran and Sandra Bautista.
Diaz also gains the top seed in 14-U play that also features Gauran, Bautista and Joy Ansay while Adriana Lanza, Maristella Torrecampo, Xophia Oliveros and Julliene Cautivo out to slug it out for the 12-U trophy.
