Record entries for Gullas netfest

The JRG Gullas Tennis Cup is reaping immediate results with its new lofty status.

Six weeks after it has been elevated into a Group 1 event under the Unified Tennis Philippines, the Gullas Cup has attracted a record of close to 300 entries for its 23rd edition scheduled to be held on June 15 at the CitiGreen Tennis Resort and at the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club tennis courts.

This as event founder Jose 'Dodong' R. Gullas assured his continued support to the annual netfest he helped establish in 1995. He lifts everything to God though on the future of the tournament.

“Only God knows. Atong timbang-timbangon ta ni kung asa ni taman,” said Gullas, who likes tennis because it is one sport that doesn't require height for one to excel even on the international stage.

From its humble beginnings, the Gullas Cup rose to greater heights as the longest running and biggest junior tennis event outside of Metro Manila.

Now that it has been upgraded to a Group 1 event wherein the winning players will get the highest number of points they needed for their individual rankings, some of top Manila's players are coming over to the Queen City of the South to see action in the most sought-after tennis competition in the Vis-Min region.

"There will be a lot from Manila who will be coming over. We're very excited for our tournament which starts two daysfromnow,"saidJohnOwen Z. Pages, one of the forerunners of the Gullas Cup.

Pages earlier said the Gullas Cup is one of the only five Group 1 tennis events sanctioned by UTP in the VisMin region. The other four are halved by Cebuana Lhuillier and Palawan Pawnshop.

UTP prides itself of being an all-inclusive organization, founded and supported by the country's biggest tennis patrons and aficionados. It is formally recognized by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) as a sport association, with a mission of serving, developing and promoting tennis in the country.

Among UTP's founding leaders are businessmansportsman Jean Henri Lhuillier, Senators Sonny Angara and Migs Zubiri, Bobby Castro, Randy Villanueva, Gerardo Maronilla, Jackie Tomacruz, and Julito Villanueva.

Tournament director Fritz Tabura said over 250 racquetwielders have already signed up for the five-day event but they are expecting the number to rise to 300 especially that they are extending the registration until 12nn today.

Just like in the previous editions, a total of nine categories will be contested: mixed 10-under, and boys and girls 12, 14, 16 and 18-under. There will also be doubles competition for the 10, 14 and 18-under age groups.—

with Caecent No-ot Magsumbol