PPS-PEPP Manila draws all-star cast

MANILA, Philippines – The country’s leading players brace for a fierce showdown with a slew of rising stars and a host of young netters raring to prove their worth when the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age-group tennis tournament hosts the Manila leg on June 6-12 at the Olivarez Sports Center indoor courts in Sucat, Parañaque.

Three hundred fifty participants have confirmed participation in the biggest gathering of age-groupers in years with Al Francis Andrade, Joseph Apilado Jr., Finney Apilado and Joel Atienza heading the boys’ 18-and-under cast and Gabriel Tiamson, Marcus del Rosario, Mar Raphael Teng and Tim Gumban leading the 16-U side of the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger.

Bobby Mangunay, PPS-PEPP regional age group tennis event organizer, said they have extended the tournament, originally set for five days, to a seven-day affair to accommodate the big number of entries.

Listup ends today at 12 noon with the schedule and draws available at www.palawanpawnshoptennis.com/draws. For details, call Mangunay at 0915-4046464.

“We are overwhelmed by the big number of participants which only inspires us to put more and more tournaments for these young players to showcase their talent and skills and at the same time help in the development of the sport,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Angelo Aparte, Jose Martin Buenaventura, Jenard Gonzales and Karl Carasus banner the boys’ 14-U category while Edgardo Angara, JT Bernardo, Joaquin de Leon and Magnus Gnilo are the players to watch in the 12-U section of the tournament backed by Asiatraders Corp., exclusive distributor of Slazenger, and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

“We guarantee another successful staging of this event, which also stakes ranking points, making it one of the most sought-after tournaments in terms of prestige and participation,” said Olivarez.

Kryshanna Brazal, Abigail Sacapano, Noelle So, LJ Quiros, Stella Sieh and Jayden Ballado lead the chase for the girls’ 12-U title while the 10-unisex division features the likes of Kidlat Estogero, Francis Guillermo, Glydel Guevarra and Mariel Jarata.