UTP players vie in ITF Malaysia

MANILA, Philippines — Five junior players from the Unified Tennis Philippines are currently competing in an ITF (International Tennis Federation) event in Malaysia as part of the new sports group’s commitment to provide the country’s future stars international exposure.

Stephen Guia, Marc Suson, Pherl Coderos, Anna De Myer and Denise Bernardo are slugging it out against the region’s top junior players for top honors and ranking points in the 16-and-under division of the ITF Malacca International Junior Championship.

“I am very thankful to UTP for the chance to play in the ITF Malaysia. I’m very excited as this is my first time to compete abroad,” said De Myer.

The five along with 19 others were selected based on UTP’s national ranking system after over 125 UTP-sanctioned tournaments all over the country.

The other players making  up the first-ever national junior tennis team, which will represent the country in several top tournaments sanctioned by the ITF and the Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) are John David Velez, Brent Cortez, Rainier Selmar, Rupert Tortal, Macie Carlos, Alexa Milliam, Casey Padilla and Alexandra Eala (U14). and Michael Eala, Stephen Guia, Laurenz Quitara and Rovie Baulete (U16).

The U18 players  are Manuel Balce III, Marc Suson, Arthur Pantino, Bea Francesca Acena, Elizabeth Abarquez, Melanie Dizon and Aubrey Calma.