Close to 200 young netters will begin their quest for supremacy in their respective categories as the highly anticipated 24th Gullas Tennis Cup fires off today (Friday, October 17) in two venues – the Alta Vista Golf and Country Club in Barangay Pardo and at Citigreen Tennis Resort in Barangay Punta Princesa, Cebu City.
Participated in by racquet-wielders from Cebu, Leyte, Bohol, Surigao del Norte, Negros Oriental, La Carlota City, Iloilo, South Cotabato and Siquijor as well as the 15-year-old Joseph Tomo from Melbourne, Australia, the tournament is making a return after a seven-year hiatus along with a promise of a bigger and grander Silver edition next year.
Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA)-ranked players Juvels Velos, Al Jose Gairanod, Zeun Paul Verallo, and
Donna Mae Diamante are among the top seeds in the boys 18 Under of the four-day tilt.
The rest of the early favorites include Jhunreal Espinosa, Kathlyn Bugna, and Thea Mae Castro (16 Under), Xian Wynn Calagos, Claudwin Seven Tonacao, Everett Gil Niere, Ethan Nadine Seno and Kathlyn Bugna (14 Under), and Everette Pete Niere, Everette Enzo Niere, Thirdy de Juan, James Andrio Estrella, Val Ian Gairanod, and Ethan Nadine Seno (12 Under).
All the champions of the PHILTA Group 2 event will earn 120 points while the runners-up get 100 points. The semifinalists and quarterfinalists will receive 75 and 50 points, respectively.
A Fritz Tabura Award will also be given to the Most Outstanding Player in both boys and girls division.
Founded by Cebu Sports Hall of Famer Dr. Jose Dodong Gullas in 1995, the Gullas Cup has become the biggest and most sought-after junior tennis spectacle in the VisMin region, producing dozens of national champions over the years.
Among its brightest products are Jacob Lagman, Fitzgerald Tabura, Sally Mae Siso, Oswaldo Dumoran, Francis Casey Ni o Alcantara, the 2009 Australian Open junior doubles champion, and Philippine National Games (PNG) triple-gold medal winner Norman Joseph Enriquez to name a few.