Junior netters stay busy this summer as the PPS-PEPP national age group circuit resumes in key cities in Luzon and Mindanao beginning with the Ipil leg which got under way yesterday (Wednesday) at the 102nd Igsoon Brigade Tennis Courts in Zamboanga Sibugay.
Close to 120 players are vying in the Group 2 tournamaent presented by Dunlop featuring nine age group divisions with Faith Regencia, Glaze Omos and Jalia Elumba leading the bidders in the girls’ 16- and 18-U classes and Lex Estillore, Zarc Denopol, Al Dree Pan, Miggy Omos and Al Ritz Pan gaining top seeding in the top two categories in the boys’ side.
Meanwhile, the Luzon swing actually fired off last Monday with the Pulilan, Bulacan leg with San Pablo, Laguna hosting the next stop of the circuit put up by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala on May 4-12 for the Escudero Cup.
The Cainta Open, which will feature the country’s top players, will be held on May 13-21 while the two-weekend PPS-PEPP UP National Student Open will be played onMay 18-19 and on May 25-26.
“This annual PPS-PEPP nationwide summer circuit is part of our continuing commitment not only to develop the sport and help produce future stars but also to keep our youth away from vices,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
The Mindanao tour, on the other hand, will hold its next stop on April 28-May in Liloy, Zamboanga del Norte with Sindangan, Zamboa del Norte hosting the next leg on May 2-5. Action then shifts to ZDN capital Dipolog while Oroquieta, Misamis Occidental takes its turn to stage the circuit on May 8-11.
Listup for all tournaments is ongoing. For details, call PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.
Others tipped to contend for top honors in the Ipil tournament are Sean Esick and Andrei Tan in the 12-U and RJ Cagatan, Penshoppe Erquita, Marc Fernandez and Denopol in the 14-U of the boys’ division while Cielo Gonzales, Neach Domiguez and Elumba head the chase in the girls’ 12- and 14-U categories.
