RISING local talents Ayl Gonzaga and Jan Cadee Dagoon are putting friendship aside in pursuit of a shared mission – to dominate before their hometown crowd as they spearhead the Olongapo Tennis Club National Junior Championships at the OTC courts in Olongapo City.
The week-long tournament – one of the Christmas-season highlights of the long-running Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala (PPS-PEPP) junior tennis circuit – serves as both a year-end developmental program and a festive sporting celebration for young athletes nationwide.
Sanctioned by Philta and supported by Dunlop, Universal Tennis and ICON Golf & Sports, the event brings together top-tier and emerging junior players aiming to close the year with a championship run.
Action formally began Thursday, with Gonzaga and Dagoon earning opening-round byes before starting their Group 2 campaigns Friday against Ariana Torres and Ella dela Cruz, respectively. But the road to a dream hometown finals clash is expected to be rugged, especially with Kathleen Bugna, a multi-titled campaigner from La Carlota, seeded third and eager to spoil the party.
Rounding out the formidable girls’ 16-and-U cast are Dania Bulanadi, Athena Liwag, Leanne Barrido, Audrey Humilde, and Claire Alcala, all determined to make their mark in one of the circuit’s most competitive age brackets.
Dagoon, Bulanadi, and Bugna will also headline the girls’ 18-and-U category, joined by Shiloh Cruz, while Gonzaga leads the 14-and-under group featuring Liwag, Barrido, Isabel Calingasan, Abby Castigador, Sofia Aguilera, Jaynelle Castro, and Alexa Morales.
On the boys’ side, Antonio Ng Jr. and Troan Vytiaco loom as the top contenders for the 18-and-U crown, with Al Tristan Licayan and Karl Almiron also expected to make strong pushes. In the 16-and-under bracket, Gabriel Cruz and Anthony Cosca headline the field that also includes Vytiaco, Almiron, Matteo Calingasan, and Marcus Sio.
Cosca likewise banners the 14-and-U division, where he will face Calingasan, Sio, Jairus Peralta, Yuan Torrente, Joaquin Dacyon, Jacob Dizon, and Jfsky Berille in what promises to be a tightly contested race for the holiday title.
Completing the roster of divisions are the boys’ and girls’ 12-and-U, along with the 10-and-under unisex category – key developmental brackets where many future national standouts take their first steps onto the competitive stage.
Doubles events for all divisions will also be featured, further enriching the Christmas offering of the PPS-PEPP program, which continues to fulfill its mission of making structured, nationwide grassroots tennis accessible to young Filipinos.
Tournament director Bobby Mangunay invites interested players and parents to reach out at 0915-4046464 for final details and scheduling updates.
