Over 200 clash for honors in PPS-PEPP Oroquieta

MANILA, Philippines — Keen competition is seen as action in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala age-group tennis tournament got under way in Oroquieta City over the weekend with close to 200 entries slugging it out for top honors in various divisions.

No player scored two victories in singles play in last week’s PPS-PEPP stop in Ozamiz City to underscore the level playing field with the same finish tipped in this week’s Group 2 tournament with practically the same cast clashing in nine categories at the Oroquieta City Lawn Tennis Club in Misamis Occidental.

But six Ozamiz leg winners are all primed up for another shot at their respective crowns with Carmeville Gervacio eyeing a repeat in the girls’ 18-and-under class, Rovie Baulete in 16-U, Judy Padilla in 12-U, Nilo Ledama in boys’ 16-U, Brent Cortes in 14-U and Aslan Carbonilla in 12-U.

“The level playing field indeed makes this circuit more and more interesting and we continue to encourage the young players out there to train and join with so many tournaments lined up and almost all the provinces covered by our annual tour,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.

Meanwhile, a tossup among Steven Sonsona, Uzziel Pepito, Jessy Elumba and Ledama looms in the boys’ premier class while Kristine Bandolis and Padilla are tipped to dispute the girls’ 14-U title and Garlandson Ardiente, Wyn Sanchez, Novic Malinis and Troy Iglupas gear up for a fierce duel in the 10-unisex side of the event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop, presented by Slazenger and backed by Asiatraders Corp. and Dunlop as official ball.