First Gen Juntaphil Metro age group tennis on

MANILA, Philippines - The First Gen Juntaphil Metro Age Group Tennis Championships fires off beginning today with the country’s leading junior netters and rising stars vying for top honors and ranking points in various divisions at the Olivarez Tennis Center in Sucat, Parañaque.

The event, a Group I tournament presented by First Gen Corporation and sanctioned by Philta, has drawn over 300 players in the singles and doubles categories, including last year’s champions Mimo Tomacruz, Jed Olivarez, Jade and Marian Capadocia, Maverick Victoria, Kyle Parpa, Shannin Olivarez and Alberto Villamor among others.

Expected to grace the opening set at 8 a.m. are First Gen chief financial officer Francis Giles Puno, Juntaphil president Edward Puno and Jungolf’s Tonette Mendoza.

Betto Orendain, who bagged the 14-and 16-and-under boys’ singles crowns in the Juntaphil Cup in Pampanga last month, is also expected to see action in the event, the second of three summer tournaments put up by the organizing Junior Tennis Association of the Philippines (Juntaphil) in its continuing effort to help develop the sport and discover talents from the ranks.

The event, sponsored by Smart Communications and backed by Pet One, RCBC, Sole Footbeds and Pepsi, is the highest-ranking among the local tournaments, offering 200 points to the champions of each category.

Events on tap are the 10 & under unisex singles, 12 & under, 14 & under, 16 & under and 18 & under for boys and girls (singles) and 10 & under unisex, 14 & under and 18 & under for boys and girls (doubles).

Others expected to see action are Enrique Ferrer, Albert Lim Jr., the Paulino sisters, Maia Balce and Juan Opulencis.

Meanwhile, the third Juntaphil-organized tournament, dubbed the Okada-Juntaphil Cup (Group 3), is set May 10-16 at the Manila Polo Club.

Details: Juntaphil at (0917) 5295239 or tournament referee Boy Callao at (0928) 3735260.