Sports
Tamagos joins with PPS for a nationwide tennis tourney in Kalibo
KALIBO, Aklan- The Tamagos, known as a bestselling confectionary company based in Kalibo has joined with the Palawan Pawnshop (PPS) for a tennis series held at the Aklan State University-Kalibo Tennis Court on May 16-19.
Noel Tamagos Jr., the local organizer, told the Boracay Island News Network that some 200 tennis players and enthusiasts joined the national event, considered a first in Kalibo. Aside from Kalibo, the city of Ormoc also holds a separate event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop. The players range from juniors to legends.
“We were enthusiastic upon learning that Palawan Pawnshop has chosen Kalibo as a venue for this grassroots open tourney. We would like to make it an annual event,” Noel Tamagos Sr said in a separate interview.
“This is also part of the campaign of our province for their sports tourism program. We would like to lure young people to get engaged in sports, especially tennis,” he added.
The Kalibo tournament, originally scheduled for May 2–6, was moved to accommodate the Western Visayas Regional Athletic Association (WVRAA), according to national event organizer Bobby Mangunay.
Christian Tiongko, another organizer said among those names joining the tourney were Sandra Bautista and Maxene Panizales, who are both competing in the girls’ 16- and 18-and-under categories. Jann Ian Ituriaga leads the boys’ field in these top two divisions.
Also, the top contenders in the girls’ 12- and 14-and-U categories are Theriz Zapatos and Michael Suarez, while Ciaran Alipo-on, Phine Billones, and Drig Escobar are set to challenge top seed Francisco de Juan III in the boys’ 12-and-U division of the event.
Akeanon WVRAA gold medalist players Czarina Claire Miraflor and Prince Laurine Tana are also competing.
Write to Carla Suñer
