Date Published: September 1, 2019

Members of Team UTP, composed of (from second from left) Alexa Joy Milliam, Marielle Alexi Jarata, Exequiel Mari Jucutan and Joewyn Rey Pascua, pose with Unified Tennis Philippines general manager Jackie Tomacruz (left), national coach Leander Lazaro (second from right) and UTP board director Gerard Maronilla (right) before departing for Malaysia.

MANILA, Philippines — Four young netters, toughened up by a series of tournaments on the local front, bring their act to Malaysia this week as they slug it out for top singles honors against a tough international field in the ATF (Asian Tennis Federation) 14-and-Under Series in Kuching, Sarawak.

Alexa Joy Milliam, Marielle Alexi Jarata, Exequiel Mari Jucutan, Joewyn Rey Pascua, who have dominated the ranks in the Cebuana Lhuillier and Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala circuits, set out against the leading and rising players from Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Jordan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Great Britain, Indonesia, India and from host Malaysia, upbeat of their respective chances in the five-day tournament firing off Sept. 4 at Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association Tennis Center.

The members of the Unified Tennis Philippines national junior team’s campaign is backed by Cebuana Lhuillier Micro Savings, Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala, Dunlop, Enervon, STI, Buffalo Wild Wings, BO'S Coffee and Madison Galeries Lifestyle Mall.

Another group of young UTP players, led by Sydney Enriquez and Eric Jay Tangub, is also set to compete in the ITF (International Tennis Federation) Grade 5 tournament in Selangor on Oct. 1-6.

But focus will be on Milliam, Jarata, Jucutan and Pascua as they seek not only a crack at the crown but also at improving their respective ATF rankings. Milliam is currently at No. 36, Jarata at No. 86, Jucutan at No. 42 and Pascua at No. 51.

Source: philstar.com