MANILA, Philippines - The Gullas Tennis Cup, the longest tennis tournament outside of Manila, will launch its 19th staging today with a huge field competing in various divisions at the Inday Pining Teatro 2 of the University of the Visayas in Cebu.
Through the years, the Gullas Cup has earned the reputation as the breeding ground of Cebuano champions, producing the likes of Jacob Lagman, Fitzgerald Tabura, Sally Mae Siso, Oswaldo Dumoran, and even Francis Casey “Niño” Alcantara, the 2009 Australian Open junior doubles winner.
“Nineteen years ago, I started a developmental sports tournament for tennis for the simple reason that it is one sport that doesn’t require height. If you just have the skills, you have the chance to excel even on the international stage,” said Jose “Dodong” Gullas.
The Gullas Cup has since garnered a Group 2 ranking in the Philippine Tennis Association, enabling young players from the Vis-Min region to earn points needed for their individual rankings without having to travel to Manila.
“Tennis is a sport that’s close to Mr. Gullas because he has played the game for many, many years. His son Johnvic is also a tennis buff – and has been present since the very first serve of the Gullas Cup,” said John Owen Pages, one of the prime movers of the Gullas Cup that started at the clay courts of the Cebu Country Club.