A two-week battle of skill and power will ensue with the staging of the 2017 Phinma-PSC Juniors Tennis Championships at Manila Polo Club in Forbes Park next month.
Favored entries in the boys division of the Group 4 ITF (International Tennis Federation) event are John Bryan Otico, Arthur Pantino and Michael Eala.
A tighter battle is expected in the girls category because reigning champion Khim Iglupas is no longer qualified having turned 19.
Top bets in the distaff side are Shaira Rivera, Rafaella Villanueva, Melanie Dizon, Bea Acena, Renee Acena, Tracy Llamas Julia Ignacio, Raiana Aquino, Gennifer Pagente and Gabrielle Zoleta.
While top seed Otico, No. 9 Pantino and No. 19 Eala are assured of spots in the main draw, Rivera, Villannueva and the rest will have to go through the qualifiers to gain spots in the tournament proper of the event sponsored by the Philippine Investment Management Consultants (Phinma) and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta).
Week 1 will be played on Nov. 14 to 19 with the qualifying round for boys and girls slated Nov. 12 to 13. Sign-in deadline for Week 1 is on Nov. 11 at 6 p.m. at MPC tennis courts, according to tournament director Chris Cuarto with Malaysian Razmee Rawi as tournament referee.
Week 2 will be held on Nov. 21 to 26 with the two-day eliminations slated on Nov. 19 to 20. Registration deadline is on Nov. 13 at 6 p.m., also at the MPC.
Others vying for spots in the girls’ main draw of the event, backed by Technifiber ball, Jinjiang Inn, Makati and the PSC, are Isearis Bejosano, Paula Uy, and Beatrice Gomez. —ROY LUARCA