Kendrick Bona and Jana Diaz face uphill battles in search for victories in the Mayor Eric Olivarez national junior tennis championships of the PPS-PEPP circuit, which got under way Tuesday with another huge field in Sucat, Parañaque.
The 304-player draw in nine age-group categories surpassed the 272 entries who vied in last week’s Rep. Marlyn Alonte-Naguiat’s tournament in Biñan, Laguna. There, Bona and Diaz shared Most Valuable Player honors after sweeping the boys’ and girls’ 16- and 18-and-under singles titles, respectively.
To accommodate the big number of participants, PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director and tournament organizer Bobby Mangunay said they are using both the Parañaque Tennis Club courts and the main venue at the Olivarez Sports Center for the week-long Group 1 tournament.
The chase for the boys’ 16-and-under title is expected to be fierce with Bona bannering the 64-player draw that includes Reign Maravilla, Ariel Cabaral, Tristan Licayan, Samuel Davila, Andrew Serohijos and siblings Frank and France Dilao.
Bona also braces for a big Vince Serna rebound after the top-seeded bet bowed to Cabaral, 2-6, 3-6, in the 18-and-U semis last week and the former easing past Kale Villamar, 6-2, 6-0, and then routing Cabaral, 6-1, 6-2, in the finals.
Bona, from Puerto Princesa, earlier took the 16-and-U trophy with a 6-1, 2-0 (ret.) win over Licayan.
Diaz, from Bacoor, Cavite, overpowered Sandra Bautista twice, carving out a 6-4, 6-4 decision in 16-and-under and scoring a 6-2, 6-2 romp for the 18-and-U crown in the event.
Licayan, the 14-and-under winner in Biñan, also guns for a repeat against a slew of talented rivals, led by Yñigo Naredo, Aljhon Rombawa, John David Vytiaco, Dean Palaroan, Prince Cuenza, Jacob Gonzales and Anthony Cosca.
Maristella Torrecampo leads the chase in the girls’ side minus last week’s winner Joy Ansay.
Joining Torrecampo — who also bagged the 12-and-under diadem last week — in the 14-and-U play are Marlyn Mesiona, Cadee Dagoon, Ave Maria Policarpio, Erynne Ong, Alexa Cruspero, Ronielle Oliveros and Cristina Reyes.
Out to stop Torrecampo in the 12-and-under division are Cruspero, Ayl Gonzaga, Gabrielle Bulado, Jasmine Sardona, Carolina Fandino, Maria Ataiza and Stella Policarpio.
The tournament presented by Dunlop also serves as prelude to the Olivarez Open on 14-21 August at the Olivarez courts.
It will feature the men’s singles and doubles and Legends singles in the 35 and 45 age divisions, men’s doubles in the 40s and 50s classes, and the women’s doubles in 31-and-above and 30-and-below categories.
