A banner field of 270 young tennis players from across the country converges in Parañaque City as the Mayor Edwin Olivarez National Open Juniors Tennis Championships fires off Thursday, Nov. 6.
The PHILTA-sanctioned event is being staged across multiple venues – the Olivarez Sports Center and nearby Parañaque courts – to accommodate the huge turnout. The tournament will run for two weeks and culminate in the Open Championship.
Topping the list of contenders in the 18-and-under division are Jan Cadee Dagoon and Jonathan Higa, both expected to lead spirited campaigns in their respective brackets. Dagoon faces stiff opposition in the girls’ singles with Joy Ansay, Mikaela Ngu, Izabelle Camcam, Sabine See and Dania Bulanadi all aiming for the top prize.
On the boys’ side, Antonio Ng Jr., Gavin Kraut, Troan Vytiaco, Felizardo Lota III and Karl Almiron are among the key challengers looking to dethrone Higa in the tournament held under the Palawan Pawnshop–Palawan Express Pera Padala (PPS-PEPP) program.
The event, held in honor of Mayor Edwin Olivarez and backed by Universal Tennis, Dunlop, and ICON Golf & Sports, reinforces the city’s and the Olivarez family’s long-standing commitment to discovering and developing young talents who could one day represent the country on the international stage.
Dagoon is also bidding for a double title as she joins the fray in the 16-and-U category, where Ayl Gonzaga looms as the top seed, with Maria Ataiza, Astrid Cablitas, Camcam and Bulanadi adding depth to a highly competitive draw.
In the younger brackets, fierce battles are likewise anticipated. Ella Paglaluan braces for a duel with Gonzaga in the 14-and-U class, joined by Shaner Gabaldon, Francine Wong, Cablitas and Ataiza, while Kyla Caguioa, Amanda Barrido, Tesinha Calingasan and Abby Castigador are among the favorites in the 12-and-U girls’ division.
On the boys’ side, the 16-and-U competition is wide open, with Krelz Gecosala carrying the momentum of recent triumphs as he tests his mettle against Anthony Cosca, Antonio Bengzon, Vytiaco and Almiron.
Gecosala also holds the top seed in the 14-and-U class, where Cosca, Cristiano Calingasan, Jairo Flores and Tyronne Caro are expected to challenge his dominance.
The future stars of Philippine tennis are likewise on display in the youngest brackets. Leading the 12-and-U boys’ field are Jan Villeno, Yuan Torrente, Gabriel Vitaliano, Liam Harrow, Raven Licayan and Caro, while Harrow headlines the 10-and-U unisex division, joined by Raven de Guzman, Terrence Battalones, Maximus Calingasan and Matias Aguilera.
