Top junior netters vie in Palawan ELO Cup

MANILA, Philippines - The best of the best in junior play and a host of upcoming stars take center stage beginning today as they slug it out for top honors and ranking points in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala E.L.O. Cup regional age group tennis presented by Technifibre at the Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City.

More than 300 players are seeing action in the five-day Group 2 tournament serving as the sixth leg of the 38-stage circuit put up by the country’s leading pawnshop, remittance and claim center and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association.

Marcen Gonzales, Emmanuel Fuellas, Julian Dayrit and Manuel Balce III along with Chrislyn Sioson, Frances Santiago, Nicole Amistad and Rafaella Villanueva headline the star-studded cast, all raring to strut their wares and fuel their respective title bids in the premier 18-and-under class of the event held in honor of Philta president and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

“With the level of their skills and talent, no one holds a distinct advantage over the other in all categories, guaranteeing fierce action and thrilling finishes,” said Olivarez, who also cited Palawan Pawnshop’s all-out support to tennis development.

Sioson, Santiago and Villanueva are also vying in a talent-laden 16-U section that includes Bettina Bautista, Alexie Bangayan, Mikaela Vicencio and Miles Vitaliano while Cenon Gonzales Jr., Jerome Romualdez, Justin Suarez, Fuellas, Jacob Martin, Marraphael Teng and Manuel Balce III lead the cast in the boys’ 16-U category.

“This Group 2 tournament gives our junior players the exposure they need to earn ranking points and boost their respective games and Palawan Pawnshop will continue to support tennis development by providing topnotch tournaments all year-round,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.

Alexandra Eala and Gaby Zoleta, two of a slew of rising stars, lead the girls’ 12-U field, which also features the likes of Macie Carlos, Kryshana Brazal, Bettina Catoto and Justine Maneja while Miguel Vicencio, Marc Jarata, Edgardo Angara and Daniel Estanislao are expected to crowd it out for the boys’ 12-U diadem.

Meanwhile, Cainta will host next week’s leg at the Brookside Hills Tennis Club set Feb. 27-March 2.

For details, call Bobby Mangunay, PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director, at 0915-4046464.