Local aces favored in Palawan tennis

MANILA, Philippines - Homegrown talents Dawn Albert Uy and Kaye Alota set out as the marked players as they lead the title hunt in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group tennis circuit presented by Tecnifibre beginning today at the Ubay Tennis Club in Ubay, Bohol.

Uy, 16, and Alota split the premier titles in the girls’ side last year with the former beating the latter for the 16-and-under crown and the Alota pouncing on the injury-stricken Uy to snare the 18-and-U diadem.

Wyndell Deja, meanwhile, goes for another sweep of the boys’ 16- and 18-and-U titles although the 15-year-old Cebu find is expected to have his hands full this time with a slew of players out to foil his back-to-back bid in the event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and Technifibre

Reggie Amba and Miguel Logronio,  Russel Cero, Jed Justin Labasano, Rica Gudelasao and Armida Gumapac are some of the players tipped to contend for the crown in other divisions of the event sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association, headed by president and Parañaque Ctiy Mayor Edwin Olivarez, and hosted by Mayor Galicano Atup.

“In behalf of the Ubay, Bohol municipality, we thank Palawan Pawnshop and Techifibre for holding this event again here. This is a good tournament for our young tennis players and enthusiasts,” said Mayor Atup.

Philta regional vice president Tingardz Uy has also confirmed the participation of players from Dumaguete, Siquijor, Panglao, Carmen and from other towns of Bohol.

“This series of nationwide age-group tournaments is part of Palawan Pawnshop’s commitment to help develop the sport from the grassroots level and provide the young players highly competitive tournaments,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.

The titles to be disputed in the four-day Group 4 tournament are the boys’ and girls’ 18-, 16-, 14-, and 12-and-under and 10-unisex.