MANILA, Philippines - With an average of 128 participants in the first four legs, the Smart Junior Tennis Satellite Circuit 2010 turned out to be a big success in its Mindanao tour after stops in Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, Digos City and Davao.
The event is presented by tennis patron Manny V. Pangilinan, chairman of Smart Sports in cooperation with Head and Chris Sports, with the support of Toalson and Meralco.
The tour has discovered budding tennis superstars led by Kidapawan City native Jzash Canja who won the girls’ 14-under and 16-under categories in Digos and Davao.
Other players also emerged from the various categories and were named top male and female players for every leg. The top performers received brand-new cellphones with loads from Smart Communications aside from Head tennis equipment.
Jaffary Cariga, Davao City bet who won in the 12-under boys division, was named top player in the Digos City leg.
Two other players from the 12-under male and female divisions were also chosen as top performers in the Davao City leg. They are Jericho Painagan in the 10-unisex and Rosevel Ann Binondo in the 12-under girls division.
The event’s opening stage in Cagayan de Oro was dominated by Lynette Palasan and Carlo Nono.
Palasan was at his best in the girls’ 16-under and 18-under class while Nono emerged victorious in the 14-under male category.
The Gacho sisters – Chelsea and Kyle – along with Jan Jeric Accion stole the spotlight in Zamboanga.
The event moves to the Visayas region starting off with the Lapu-Lapu City leg where 127 entries are joining the event. After Lapu-Lapu, the tour shifts to Cebu City (April 24-27), Panglao, Bohol City (April 29-May 2), Dumaguete City (May 4-6), Bacolod City (May 8-10), and Iloilo City (May 12-15).