Record field vie for Cebu tennis honors

More than 300 entries begin their chase for top honors and ranking points as action in the two-week Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Dagitab Festival leg regional age group tournament reels off today at Naga City Tennis Club in Naga, Cebu.

The organizers tapped other venues, including Alta Vista Sports Club, Talisay Tennis Club and Apo Tennis Club, to accommodate the record field vying in the boys’ and girls’ 12-, 14-, 16-, -18 and 10-under unisex divisions of the event.

Elsie Abarquez and Tracy Llamas banner the girls’ 16- and 18-U classes that also include Melanie Dizon and Zethley Alferez.

Bliss Bayking, champion in a number of legs this year, join the hunt in the 14-U and 16-U classes.

Jose Maria Pague, Norman Enriquez, Marc Pradel and Paul Coderos are expected to slug it out in the boys’ 18-U division.

Louise Segarra, Mark Albarracin, Jayford Canono and Vinz Lominoque, on the other hand, lead the 16-U section of the penultimate leg of the 45-stage nationwide circuit.

The age-grouper also serves as a prelude to the Open, featuring the country’s top players, which fires off Dec. 17 at the same venue.

“We are honored to host this huge number of participants,” said Naga City, Cebu Mayor Kristine Chiong.