Palawan Pawnshop netfest lures big field

MANILA, Philippines - Junior players from Kidapawan City, Kabacan, Pagadian, General Santos City and Sultan Kudarat have confirmed participation in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age-group tournament, which got under way yesterday in Digos City, Davao Del Sur.

Organizers waived the registration fee to accommodate all the young players eager to join the four-day event serving as the 24th leg of the year-round, nationwide circuit put up by Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro and Guillermo Nocom, president of Technosports, distributor of Babolat.

“This is the first time that we’re holding a free, open tennis tournament here in Digos and this is a big boost to the sport, particularly to our young players,” said Baguio Saripada, president of the host Digos City Tennis Club.

Other players seeing action are from Mlang, Davao City, Tagum City, Mati, Koronadal, Midsayab, Malita and Sto. Tomas along with the upcoming and leading players of Digos City.

Davao City aces Jaffary Cariga and Rachel Patricia Velez are expected to go for back-to-back romps after scoring a pair of twin victories in last week’s leg in Davao del Norte.

“We expect another huge field to compete in the tournament. We believe there’s a lot of talents to be tapped in the countryside that’s why we’re supporting Philta’s nationwide program to promote the sport,” said Castro.

Titles to be disputed in the event, sanctioned by Philta, are the 10-unisex, 12-, 14-, 16- and 18-and-under for boys and girls.

Giveaways will also be given to all participants in the event which also serves as the regional tournament program for children staged to address the need for a grassroots tennis centered on values formation, according to Nocom.