New tennis group gets PSC nod

The Philippine Sports Commission has given its recognition to the Unified Tennis of the Philippines which is made up of majority of the sport’s stakeholders.

In an e-mail dated Sept. 26, the PSC board approved UTP’s request for accreditation. It wasn’t stated though if the sport’s agency has withdrawn recognition from the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta).

Led by tennis patron Jean Henri Lhuillier, UTP is the breakaway group from Philta, which refused to hold elections in accordance with existing charters.

“We are a professionally-run association which is what NSAs (national sports associations) should be, with a goal to involve the general tennis population in the country,” said UTP official Randy Villanueva.

Villanueva and Lhuillier said they still have “outstanding complaints” against Philta, where they are still members of the board.

UTP is supporting rising stars Alexandra Eala and Tracie Llamas who will compete in the Women’s Tennis Association Future Stars in Singapore later this month.

UTP recently unveiled its 24 regional officers-in-charge to better represent tennis clubs all over the country.