Mia Gemida and Cedrix Bravo brim with confidence as they shoot a pair of titles each in the PPS-PEPP Mayor Junard Chan national age-group tennis tournament which got under way at the Lapu Lapu City and Consolacion tennis courts in Cebu Friday.
Close to 200 entries are vying for top honors and ranking points in nine age-group categories of the Group I tournament presented by Dunlop with competitions also up in the doubles featuring five age-group divisions.
Gemida and Bravo are tipped to dominate their respective sides in the 16- and 18-and-under play of the five-day tournament put up by Lapu Lapu City Mayor Junard Chan and which drew the rising and top players from the host city and nearby towns.
Out to foil Gemida are Tiffany Nocos and sisters Bless, Hazel and Helariza Coderos while Hans Cabello, Mitch Largo and Prince Lim along with Venz Alforque, John Longakit and Paul Coderos set out to foil Bravo in the top two divisions in the boys’ side of the event serving as part of the country’s longest talent-search sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
Keen competition is also seen in other age brackets with Nocos bannering the 14-U section that includes Faith Banico, Helariza Coderos and Therese Gauran and Lim looming as one of the players to beat in the boys’ division, which also features Hans Cabellon, Gio Manito and Chad Cuizon.
Meanwhile, action shifts to Naga City, Cebu on Dec. 14-21 for the PPS-PEPP Dagitab Festival, which features the men’s Open singles and doubles along with the Group I junior play. Also on tap are the Legends singles for 40-and-above, and doubles for 30s, 40s and 50s. For details, contact PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.