Smart-Head serves up Manila leg of nat’l junior tennis tour

MANILA—Maguindanao’s Rogelio Estanio Jr. and Davao’s Juan Paolo Cansino lead over 500 players vying for titles in the final leg of the Smart-Head Junior Tennis Satellite Circuit 2011 age-group national tour which fired off yesterday at the Meralco tennis courts in Pasig City.

The Manila leg, which drew the most number of participants, is the 13th stop of the nationwide tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association.

“To further support the kids in their game, we will identify promising players and accord these select kids with tennis equipment to help them continue winning,” said Liza Tang of Head Philippines, the founder of this grassroots event.

Aside from Estanio and Cansino, other players who are showing potential as national junior bets are Jeleardo Amazona, Michael Francis Eala, Tim and Kim Polero, Jerome Romualdez, Eric Olivarez Jr., Calvin and Claudio Canlas, Argil Lance Canizares and Vince Salas.

Leading the girls’ side are Marinel Rudas, Carmela Llavore, Chloe Mae Saraza, Erika Manduriao, Ma. Dominique Ong, Lynette Palasan and Roxanne Mae Resma.

Previous legs of the 70-day circuit were staged in Koronodal, Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Cebu, Iloilo, Bacolod, Dumaguete, Zamboanga, Dapitan, Baguio, Olongapo and San Pablo.

“The real test has started in Manila,” said tournament director Juanito Cansino.