Action in the long-running PPS-PEPP age group tennis circuit shifts to Molave, Zamboanga del Sur beginning today (Friday, April 5) with local ace Eric Tangub and Angel Denopol shooting for another pair of two-title feats at the LGU & Moltec courts.
Tangub stamped his class in the top two boys’ categories in Misamis Occidental last week, making him the marked player in the 16- and 18-and-under divisions of the Group 2 tournament presented by Dunlop and dubbed as the JNY Cup.
But the leading player form Tucuran will have his hands full against the likes of Nash Agustines, Ashton Villanueva and Sebastian Lagamon in the full-packed 16-U field and versus Nilo Ledama, Lex Estillore and Siegred Pepito in the premier 18-U division of the four-day event put up by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala headed by president and CEO Bobby Castro.
Like Tangub, Denopol will be hard-pressed to score a repeat in the girls’ 12- and 14-U sides with Cielo Gonzales and Zelah Toribio looming as her biggest rivals. The rising star from Kolambugan, Lanao del Norte will also see action in the 16-U section headlined by Carmel Padilla, also the top seeded bet in the 18-U category that includes Toribio, Rose Cuizon, Marge dela Cerna and Erica Duyongan.
Fierce duel is also seen in the other classes with Heinz Carbonilla, Zarc Denopol, RJ Cagatan and Agustines tipped to dispute the 14-U crown and Sean Esick, Nicholas Tan, Pete Bandala and Wyn Sanchez heading the 12-U roster with Bandala, Axi Estillore, Cielo Gonzales and Vincent Nadal leading the chase for the 10-U diadem.
Also on tap in the event, sponsored by Nathaniel Yuteekiong, are five doubles competitions and the Legends division.
Meanwhile, Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte will host the next stop on April 7-10. Listup is ongoing. For details, call PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.