Filipinos waiting for IPTL return

TV5 president-CEO Noel Lorenzana can’t wait to experience the second serving of the International Professional Tennis League tourney scheduled this December at SM Mall of Asia in Pasay.

First staged in Manila in November last year, IPTL had a huge inaugurals with about 30,000 people attending the three-day event.

Since tennis lags behind such sports as basketball and volleyball in popularity here, no one expected such a big turnout.

“The big stars from all over the world  were terribly pleased,” said Lorenzana. “They loved it here. And vowed they would endeavor to make tennis popular here in our country.”

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Lorenzana is excited about the return of the IPTL to Manila and at seeing the sport’s biggest stars in action.

And it’s not just because his network is covering the event for television.

Lorenzana is one of the country’s biggest fans of the sport. He played varsity tennis and skippered the La Salle squad in the UAAP.

“I still play tennis regularly,” he said. “There was a time when I used to teach aspiring young tennis players for free.”

Lorenzana said some of the nicest and most beautiful people he has ever met are tennis players.

“I’ve met Rafael Nadal and Serena Williams who are both top athletes.”

The IPTL tournament series will be played in December with Japan staging the kickoff matches.

The Philippines is the tour’s next stop before India and Dubai take their turn. The concluding tournament is scheduled in Singapore.

Lorenzana said he will be watching the  world-class matches both live and on television, the way he did last year.

“That’s the way to enjoy the game to  the fullest,” he said.