PPS-PEPP regional netfest unfolds in Tacloban

Action in the longest-running, nationwide Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala regional age group tennis tournament shifts back to Visayas starting today with Tacloban hosting the four-day tournament at Tacloban City Tennis Club in Leyte.

Another huge field is competing in the Group 5 tournament which has lured the host province’s top and rising players along with those from the nearby towns and provinces, ensuring a fierce battle for top honors in various divisions.

“We expect a number of players to rise and pull off some reversals as has been the norm in the circuit the past few years,” said Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro.

Darlene Malooy, Juliene De Guzman, Mae Salamida and Lean Gingco banner the field in the girls’ 16- and 18-andunder classes although Anica Cari gets the top seeding in the 16-U section of the event presented by Technifibre and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

Cari is also competing in the 14-U side along with Trixie Sumapig, Mia Gemida and Corazon Lambonao, who also topbills the field in the 12-U category along with Honey Anover, Alykza Salamida, Xyxia Yunson, Nica Pilapil, Maria Nunez and Jennelyn Advencula.

“This is the first time that we’re hosting a national tournament of this magnitude and we thank Palawan Pawnshop for providing our young players the venue where they could showcase their skills,” said Judge Mario Melchor, president of Tacloban Tennis Club.

The event also serves as the fourth to last of the year-long circuit with Pagadian City hosting the next on Dec. 4-7 and Naga City, Cebu on Dec. 11-15. The Dagitab Open caps the tour on Dec. 17-22. For details, call Bobby Mangunay, PPS-PEPP organizer and sports program development director at 0915-4046464.