300 to vie in NCR leg of Palawan net

A LARGE number of age groupers are expected to see action in the NCR leg of the 2013 Palawan Pawnshop President’s Cup National Age Group tennis tournament on Dec. 13-17 at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat, Parañaque.

Tournament referee Bobby Mangunay in a text message, informed that they are expecting around 300 players to join the tournament, which is backed by Technosports, the exclusive distributor of Babolat.

The event, which is part of the year-round, nationwide circuit put up by Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro and Guillermo Nocom, president of Technosports, is sanctioned by the Philippine Lawn Tennis Association (Philta).

Titles at stake in the Philta Group 2 tourney include the 10-Under Unisex and the boys and girls 12-Under, 14-Under, 16-Under and 18-Under age groups.

Among those expected to join the event are Metro Manila’s Erica Manduriao of the San Sebastian Stags junior tennis varsity team, Ma. Dominique Ong of Saint Paul University Manila, Mikaela Vicencio, Blanche Lagrisola, Chloe Saraza and Rafaella Villanueva.

The 15-year-old Manduriao is among the busiest age groupers this year and is coming off from a title conquest in the juniors division of the 32nd Philippine Columbian Association Open.

The 2013 Batang Pinoy National Finals-bound Manduriao also ruled reigned supreme during the 1st leg of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) – Philippine Lawn Tennis Association’s (Philta) Junior Tennis Championships last Nov. 1, 2013 at the Laray tennis courts in Consolacion where she snared the 16-Under title and the premier 18-Under crown.

Meanwhile, the deadline for submission of entries is scheduled on Dec. 8 while the drawing of lots will be on Dec.10 at the Olivarez Sports Center which has three indoor shell courts, two indooor hardcourts and an outdoor hardcourt. /Correspondent Jade S. Violeta