National age group tourney kicks off tomorrow

OVER a hundred junior netters vie for honors in the 2014 National Age Group Tennis Series as the first leg fires off tomorrow at the tri-clay courts of Valencia City in Bukidnon.

The eighth edition of the tournament, which aims to develop more provincial players, has drawn hopefuls from Davao City, Cagayan de Oro, Bukidnon, Tangub, Koronadal, Isulan and Ozamiz.

“We see this series as an important program for young aspiring tennis players today, who are the future of Philippine tennis,” said Jean Henri Lhuillier, the board chair of the Philippine Tennis Association and manager of the Philippine Davis Cup team.

Among last year’s standouts who moved on to play in the Philippine Columbian Open were Cagayan de Oro’s Dave Sebastian Mosqueda, Surigao’s Rupert Ohrelle Tortal and Ozamiz’s Ashton Villanueva.

“Age group tennis has always been a part of our advocacy to support and promote youth development through sports,” added Lhuillier, who’s also the president and chief executive officer of event backer Cebuana Lhuiller in partnership with Dunlop.

Registration deadline for the Valencia City leg is set at 5 p.m. today. For inquiries, call Mario Craiz at 9468280.

The nationwide program hits high gear in the summer where majority of the 29 legs will get going.  Jasmine W. Payo