Villanueva eyes major Philta change

SHORTLY after obtaining the nod of the International Tennis Federation to hold the rein of the Philippine Tennis Association, Randy Villanueva is calling for a summit of all stakeholders to totally overhaul the sport.

Villanueva received an e-mail from ITF president David Haggerty last July 30 congratulating him “for his assumption as president.”

Haggerty’s was replying to Villanueva’s
e-mail explaining the situation in Philta.
The erstwhile Philta vice president is assuming the term of resigned president Edwin Olivarez until 2018 based on the terms of the Philta charter on rules of succession.

Villanueva said he will call for a summit next month and revamp Philta’s “outdated and flawed” bylaws and constitution.

He said the existing Philta charter “is run by only a handful of people, all based in Metro Manila, and who don’t represent the entire tennis population.”

“We want the association to be more hardworking and more responsive to a broader population,” said Villanueva. “Our goal is to have 100,000 members which is very achievable for a big sport like tennis.”

He added that elections will then follow.

Backing Villanueva is Philta chair Jean Henri Lhuillier, part-owner of the Philippine Mavericks in the International Tennis Premier League, team sponsor/manager of the Davis Cup teams and title sponsor of the PCA Open.

Villanueva brokered talks between Lhuillier and IPTL founder Mahesh Bhupati to make the country a major stop in the IPTL and a franchisee of the prestigious meet.