CEBU, Philippines - Expect a bigger and grander 20th edition of the JRG Gullas Tennis Cup as the man behind the tournament, Jose ‘Dodong’ R. Gullas promised major improvements after the successful staging of the 19th edition last week.
“I am happy with the outcome of the last staging of the tournament that has been the breeding grounds for aspiring tennis players who showed potential in the tournament,” said Gullas during a courtesy call with the winning players and their parents yesterday in his office at the University of the Visayas.
“Me and John (Pages) would work for the necessary requirements to make this tournament a PHILTA Group 1 event during our 20th year next year,” added Gullas.
At the moment, the JRG Gullas Cup is a PHILTA Group 2-sanctioned tournament but it is ready to be upgraded by the Philippine Tennis Association by next year.
The third longest-existing junior tennis tournament in the country has attracted a record field of close to 250 entries during its most recent competition.
“Aside from hosting a very successful tournament, I am also happy that I’ve made a tournament that has been a tool in helping young ones to focus in tennis rather than doing vices,” Gullas said.
Aside from the competition next year, Gullas said he will also be giving awards to the people who had been helping the tournament last since its beginning in 1995.
For his part, tournament director Fritz Tabura said they will be preparing for a large number of participants next year especially those who are from outside of Cebu.
“We will be a Group 1 tournament next year so this will attract more junior tennis players,” Tabura aid. “But aside from that, most of the winners this year are out of town players and this will add to the motivation of other players from all around the country to join.”
Tabura added that the decision of playing the tournament indoors has been also a factor with the large turnout of participants this year. The games were played in two venues this year that at the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club in Barangay Pardo and at the CitiGreen Tennis Resort in Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City. (FREEMAN)