Tennielle Madis hopes to buck the odds as she shoots for a rare three title feat in the PPS-PEPP Sultan Kudarat National age group tennis tournament which got underway yesterday (Friday) at the Isulan Capitol Tennis Club.
The 12-year-old Madis seeks to get her bid going against the likes of Liana Lorenzo, Sanchena Francisco and Jeanne Raray in her age-group bracket with the rising Mlang, Cotabato star also installed as the player to beat in the 14- and 16-and-under divisions of the Group I tournament presented by Dunlop.
Sheloh Ripdos joins Lorenzo and Francisco in the hunt for the 14-U diadem while Kyle Rivera and Princess Haro loom as Madis’ toughest challengers in the 16-U class of the five-day event also serving as the second of a busy six-leg Mindanao swing of the Palawan Pawnshop Palawan Express Pera Padala circuit hosted by Gov. Pax Mangudadatu.
Jazzele Madis, meanwhile, guns for the crown in the premier 18-U play against Ripdos, Rivera and Trisha Diaz, hoping to complement with her younger sister’s projected romp in the event which will also feature a tennis clinic for the young enthusiasts, according to Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
Keen competition is also expected in the boys’ side with Jay Balaoing and Earl Bermudez leading the title chase with Bruce Hurtado and Kurt Haro also fancied to contend for the crown.
Balaoing and Haro also head the 16-U cast along with Reyman Saldivar Jr. and Jose Balonga Jr. with Saldivar also bannering the 14-U side along with Yassan Al Anazi, Ben Flores and Al Rasheed Lucman.
Kabacan will host the next stop on Feb. 14-17 followed by Kidapawan City on Feb. 21-25, Digos City on Feb. 28-March 4 and Tagum City on March 7-11.
For details and listup, call PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.