UTP players vie in ITF Malaysia
Date Published: May 13, 2018
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 exposure in international
play.
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 u 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).
“Not many people are given the chance to play abroad, so take advantage and seize
the moment. This is your chance to excel,” UTP president and president/CEO of Cebuana
Lhuillier Jean Henri Lhuillier told the team members.
They include U18 players Manuel Balce III, Marc Suson, Arthur Pantino, Bea Francesca
Acena, Elizabeth Abarquez, Melanie Dizon and Aubrey Calma.
Alex Eala actually bagged the top spot in the Les Petit 14-U European Championships
in France recently while Michael Eala made it to the quarters in the China Junior
in Chengdu.
“We understand the importance of building a competent team to foster a shared national
pride among us Filipinos. We believe that our participation in events such as this
will fuel the passion and determination of the younger generation to be globally
competitive not only in tennis but also in other sports,” said Bobby Castro, president
and CEO of Palawan Pawnshop, which supports the U14 boys’ and girls’ teams. Cebuana
Lhuillier is in charge of the U16 sides and U18 girls’ squad.
Source: tempo.com.ph