Milo junior tennis opens today

CEBU, Philippines - After a much-needed rest, Cebu’s most promising junior tennis players return to action for the 2010 Milo Junior Tennis Cup-Visayas at the Baseline Sports and Recreation Center.

The Visayas leg serves as one of four qualifying stages.The other legs include Davao, Pampanga and Quezon City.

The event features different age-groups: unisex 10-under, boys and girls 12 and14-under.

For the Visayas leg of the MILO netfest, the organizing CTW Group and sanctioning Philippine Lawn Tennis Association added the boys and girls 16 and 18-under divisions.

The 16 and 18-under classes, however, will not be included in the final battle but will still gain national ranking points.

The winners will then move up to the national finals on August 26-29 at the Clark Freeport Zone in Mabalacat, Pampanga against the other regional finalists.

The regional qualifiers will also get an educational fund worth P5,000 during the national finals.

"The MILO Junior Tennis Cup will be organized for the 22nd straight year and we hope to make it more relevant specially for the under-14 age groupers in terms of international exposure and study grants," said tennis director Jovy Mamawal.

The national champions will then earn the right to represent the country in Malaysia where several tournaments will be staged later this year.

The MILO-RP tennis team has been sending Filipino age-groupers to the Malaysia Northern State International Junior Tennis Championships in Selangor, Langkawi, Penang and Perlis since 1993. (FREEMAN NEWS)