Top juniors vie in ATF, ITF series
EXEQUIEL Jucutan and Alexa Milliam head a crack roster of national junior players gearing up for the tough ATF (Asian Tennis Federation) and ITF (International Tennis Federation) tournaments in Malaysia, aiming for a strong showing in the ATF 14-andunder series in Sarawak and the ITF Grade 5 event in Selangor.
Joewyn Pascua and Marielle Jarata join Jucutan and Milliam in the Sarawak meet while John David Velez, Eric Tangub, Jose Antonio Tria, Matthew Garcia, Sydney Enriquez, Macie Carlos, Bliss Bayking and Denise Bernardo will see action in Selangor.
These juniors, making up the boys and girls’ 14, 16 and 18-and-under categories, emerged on top of the selection process of the Unified Tennis Philippines from June 1, 2018 to May 31, 2019.
Arthur Pantino and siblings Michael and Alex Eala also made it to the list but begged off the Malaysia joust due to previous commitments with those ranked next to them in their respective categories taking over their slots.
Meanwhile, the UTP, made up of the sport’s stakeholders, led by Palawan Pawnshop, Cebuana Lhuillier, Micro Savings, Dunlop, Unilab, STI, Navegar, Madison Galeries Life Style Mall, Chris Sports and Toby’s, said the selection for the 2020 national junior team also started last June 1 and will last to May 31, 2020.
The criteria are still based on players who will finish in the top two of the boys and girls’ 14-, 16- and 18-under. However, players are now required to have at least competed in five local UTPsanctioned tournaments.