The 22nd JRG Tennis Cup was officially launched yesterday by (from left) tournament organizers John Pages and Jose “Dodong” Gullas, Johnvic Gullas and Fritz Tabura.
(CDN PHOTO/ CHRISTIAN MANINGO)
Aspiring tennis players from around the country vie in one of the country’s longest-running tennis tournaments, as the Jose R. Gullas (JRG) Tennis Cup, fires off on April 2-6 in the City of Naga, southern Cebu.
Now on its 22nd year, the tournament is expecting at least 200 participants, who will compete in various categories.
“We will have participants coming from the Visayas, Mindanao and Metro Manila,” said tournament co-organizer John Pages, in a press conference yesterday at the Gullas Halad Museum.
Pages was joined by tournament founder Jose “Dodong” R. Gullas, his son Johnvic and tournament director Fritz Tabura.
“We’ve been bringing the JRG Tennis Cup to various places and we’re happy that for this year, we are going to Naga which owns one of the top tennis courts in Cebu,” said Pages.
Pages said they are looking for another great year as he thanked the elder Gullas “for sustaining the tournament” since it was conceptualized in 1995.
In its more than two decades of existence, the JRG Tennis Cup has been the training ground of some of the country’s tennis players including Niño Alcantara, who became a boys doubles champion in the Australian Open.
For this year, the elder Gullas will be giving away five tennis rackets, which will be turned over to former Naga City Mayor Val Chiong and First District Representative Samsam Gullas.
Gullas is hoping that for next year, the event will be held in Carcar City to honor Archbishop Teofilo Camomot.
“I also request John to continue to work hard to make the JRG Tennis Cup a Group 1 category event,” said Gullas.
The JRG Tennis Cup is currently a Group 2 event. Group 1 tournaments give participants more points for their rankings.
Sanctioned by the Philippine Associations (Philta), this year’s JRG Tennis Cup will feature boys and girls 18-under, 16-under, 14-under and 12-under divisions. There will also be singles event, unisex 10-under and the doubles (boys and girls) 10-under, 14-under and 18-under divisions.
Cebu City netters are expected to strive harder this year after a dismal campaign last year.
“Last year, we didn’t have a champion from Cebu City. Players from Mindanao have greatly improved because they have more tournaments there.
They have at least two tournaments in a month and we don’t have that here,” said Tabura.
Gift certificates and trophies await the winners.
“Since this is for children, we are not allowed to give cash prizes,” said Pages.
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