And to maximize the quest for future stars, the organizing img (International Management Group) and the sponsoring JVC have tapped the various SM malls as venue sponsor that will bring the two month-long tournament to Pampanga and Baguio up north and to Cebu and Iloilo down south for clinics and exhibition matches.
The tournament will be actually launched on March 27-28 with a clinic and a series of exhibition matches at the SM North EDSA while a similar feature is slated April 3-4 at SM Baguio. SM Cebu will have its turn on May 8-9 while SM Iloilo hosts the fourth and last clinic-exhibition show on May 15-16.
Tournament proper kicks off April 16 at the SM Megamall with the participants vying for top honors in the boys’ and girls’ singles and doubles events and mixed doubles.
Pampanga will next host the event, which took the country by storm last year at the height of the JVC National Open Championships at the Glorietta Activity Center, on April 24-25.
Action in the tournament, supported by Alaska, Accel, Gosen, Toby’s Sports, Pioneer Insurance, Lactacyd, Tokyo Tokyo, The Philippine STAR, Agfa and Rudy Project, shifts to SM Southmall in Las Piñas on May 22-23.
The semifinals and the finals will be held May 28-29 at the SM Megamall, which will also host a celebrity tournament on May 30.
Deadline for submission of entries is on April 2. For details, call up img (Agnes or Joann) at tel. Nos. 751-6752/845-0162 or Rene or Timmy at tel. Nos. 725-2568/725-4942. Drawing of lots will be conducted on April 12 at the 5th level of SM Manila’s Entertainment Plaza.