Local ace John David Velez hopes to draw inspiration from the crowd as he guns for a three-title feat in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Davao leg age-group tennis circuit at the GSIS Tennis Club beginning today (Thursday, March 15).
While the 14-year-old Velez is tipped to duplicate his romp in his age-division and in the 16-U side in last week’s PPS-PEPP stop in Tagum City, he will have his hands full in the premier 18-U category with Sebastian Lhuillier, Bruce Hurtado and EJ Casal expected to foil his bid.
Tenielle Madis, who also won two titles in Tagum, likewise goes for a repeat in the 12- and 14-U sides but against a new of rivals in the five-day event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and presented by Slazenger with Dunlop as the official ball.
“Playing with a high level of confidence and before a hometown crowd, we expect Velez to measure up with the older, seasoned players in the 18-U division,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
Action in other divisions is also expected to be fierce with ranking points also up for grabs in the Group 1 tournament sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines, made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg.
Winona Cabardo, Paula Uy, Angel Novis and Jazzell Madis, who won the girls’ 18-U title in Tagum, gear up for a showdown in the centerpiece division while Novis, Claire Nacito, Daniela Dandalanin and Jessica Carcueva are expected to dispute the 16-U diadem.
Reyman Saldivar, meanwhile, tries to atone for his failed bid in the boys’ 16-U category last week as he banners the 32-player draw that includes Al Rasheed Lucman, Charles Jumawan, Ben Flores, Christian Angus, Michael Buyante, Shaun Globasa and Armando Saldivar.
Meanwhile, the MACS Crankit Community Coaching Conference will also be held this week. For details, call PPS Sports Program Development director and event organizer Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464