Palawan age-grouper unfolds in Mactan

MANILA, Philippines - Close to 150 players gear up for a showdown for top honors in various divisions, including ranking points staked in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group Mactan leg firing off today in Cebu.

Young Tracy Llamas and Beverly Enriquez banner the cast in the premier girls’ side while Jan Godfrey Seno and Manila-based Stephan Lhuillier loom as the players to beat in the boys’ 18-U section of the five-day event at the Mactan island Tennis Club, LapuLapu City.

Llamas, one of La Carlota’s stalwarts, and Enriquez also head the roster in the girls’ 16-U along with Aubrey Calma and Elizabeth Abarquez while Seno is also the top seed in the 32-player boys’ 16-U side of the Group 2 tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

“This is the turn of the young players from Mactan and nearby provinces to showcase their skills and gain ranking points,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro. “Though the NCR bets remain the favorites, we expect surprises from the local talents in all divisions.”

Meanwhile, the ninth leg of the 38-stage circuit will be held March 13-17 at the Consolacion Tennis Club in Laray, Cebu. Registration is ongoing. Deadline is  March 9. For details, call up Bobby Mangunay, PPS-PEPP sports program development director, at 0915-4046464.

Llamas is also entered in the 14-U category as a third seed with Jennifer Pagente of La Carlota and Mindanao’s Miles Vitaliano taking the top two seedings, respectively, and Sydney Enriquez ranked fourth. Rewel Justiniani, also from La Carlota, headlines the boys’ 14-U roster, which includes Sebastian Lhuillier, Harland Hogan and Anton Alforque.

Sebastian Lhuillier, meanwhile, gained the top ranking in the 12-U division with Khenz Justiani, Nash Agustines and Hogan taking the top three rankings while Mae Repollo, Alexa Milliam, Sydney Enriquez and Claire Nocos tipped to slug it out in the girls’ 12-U play.

Agustines, Khenz Justiani, Milliam and Nocos, on the other hand, are expected to dispute the 10-unisex crown in the country’s longest-running, premier age-group circuit aimed at discovering fresh talents, especially in the countryside.