PPS-PEPP Bicol Open tennis unwraps today

MANILA, Philippines – Naga City’s Albert Cornelio and Philip Segio headline the Open class while Gerry Dumalasa and Lito Gallenito seek title repeat in their respective divisions as action in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Bicol Open fires off today (Wednesday, April 20) at Lignon, DPWH-Res, Camp. Ola and Binitayan Tennis Club courts.

Close to 500 players from the Bicol region are vying for top honors in singles and doubles categories of the 31st staging of the event hosted by Gov. Joey Salceda, Rep. Al Francis Bichara and Mayor Noel Rosal and sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop with Slazenger as presentor.

“We wish to welcome the participants, spectators and guests of the Bicol Open with the beauty of our province, the heartwarming hospitality of the Albayanos and all the best we can offer for a successful staging of the event,” said Gov. Salceda.

Cornelio, last year’s men’s singles champion, and Segio gain the top two seedings in the premier class that also drew Justin Prulla, Banong Villamer, Kurt Angelo Molina, Marlon Joson, Jennard Gonzales and Brendan Gazmen.

Dumalasa, a former top San Beda player from Legazpi City, sets out as the favorite in the 40-44 age division while Gallenito from Sorsogon is the player to beat in the 50-54 class of the week-long tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association and backed by Asiatraders Corp., exclusively distributor of Slazenger, the official ball.

Rep. Bichara also cited the participation of the various tennis federations in the region, including the Catanduanes Tennis Federation, Iriga City, Naga City, Camarines Norte, Tabago City, Albay, Legazpi City, Partido Tennis Club, Masbate, Sorsogon and Nabua tennis federations.

“We take pride in putting up this tournament which complements with our age-group program in the junior side. It’s inspiring to watch adult players in various age categories slug it out in friendly competition,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Other events on tap are the ladies singles for 19-30 and 30-44 age sections featuring Monivic Santos, Au Quinones, Denise Frias and Caroline Balmadrid, and Claire Fitzgerald, Lanie Villanueva, Marisol Tejada and Pipen Bascuna, and the men’s 45-49, 55-59, 60-64 and 65-69 divisions and the doubles for men’s (60-64, 65-69 and 70) and ladies (Open, 19-29, 30-44, Open 45) and mixed doubles.

The Bicol Open also caps a two-week tennis festival in the region with the age-groupers still disputing the crowns in various divisions at presstime.

For details, call Bobby Mangunay, PPS-PEPP regional age group tennis event organizer and Sports Program Development director at 0915-4046464.