19th JRG Gullas Tennis Cup Kick-off

The third biggest and longest-running junior tennis tournament in the country, the JRG Gullas Cup, started on Thursday its 19th edition with more than 200 participating players nationwide.

For the first time, athletes will compete for top honors in covered courts slated simultaneously in two world-class venues- Alta Vista Golf and Country Club in Pardo and Citigreen Tennis Resort in Mambaling, Cebu City.

Players came from Manila, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, Bohol, Tangub City, Dumaguete, Iloilo, Bacolod, Ozamis, Biliran Province in Leyte and Tacloban.

Representing Visayas are Heart Sotto and Ellaine Rose Bahonsoa of Siquijor, Jewel Gorospe of Bais, Dumaguete, Joshua Ramon Torres of Baybay, Leyte, Ashley Zamora and Kaye Alota of Bohol, and JR Arguelles of Bacolod.

Also see in action are Cebu’s top tennis athletes Jana Pages, Arthur Craig Pantino, Gener Francis Lambayan, Zethley Mae Alferez, Cesar Kristoffer Salimbangon and Kristine Renee Salimbangon, Shyne Villareal, and Norman Enriquez.

From Luzon includes Nikki Ong of Manila and Kurt Angelo Molina of Bicol; and Mindanao athletes are Brent Seigmond Cortes, Rupert Ohrelle and Repert Regie Tortal of Surigao, Lorraine Grace Bayola and Koronadal’s Janus Ringia, and Ashton Benne Villanueva of Ozamis.

The singles divisions include the 10-and-under unisex category as well as the 12-under, 14-under, 16-under and 18-under classes for both girls and boys. The doubles divisions are 10-under unisex, 14-under boys and girls and the 18-under boys and girls.

This year, the tourney has scrapped the 21-under division due to the lack of a bigger venue.

The four-day tilt, which runs from Aug. 21 to 24. Tournament organizer John Pages, said the change of schedule of the tennis cup is designed to attract more players to join as this is the first time they hold the tournament outside the summer months.

This year’s netfest edition also changed its title from Gullas Tennis Cup to JRG Gullas Tennis Cup. JRG stands for Jose R. Gullas, the man who nurtured the tennis tournament to what it has become today, and continuously marking it since 1995.

Below are the results as of today’s tourney.

Alta Vista Golf and Country Club Tennis match result:

12-under Boys

Joshua Torres defeated Kyle Remedio with 6-0, 6-1.
Josh Vincent Ibarbia defeated Louis Segarra with 5-7, 6-4, 10-6.

12-under Girls

Pherl Coderos defeated Gorgia Cobcoban with 6-3, 6-2.
Catherine Medrano defeated Phel Coderos with 6-1, 6-2.
Tiffany Nocos defeated Ysabella Gian with 6-0,6-0.
Thalia Suson defeated Noelia Ramos with 7-6,6-0.
Shedel Gica defeated Yuki Kabayashi with 6-4,6-0.
Lyrah Repollo defeated Christine Lemorin with 6-0,6-4.
Febbie Abayan defeated Angela Laborte with 6-0,6-2.
CitiGreen Tennis Resort match result:

16-under Boys

Dharyl Alcordo defeated Rey Dante Toledo with 7-6, 6-1.
Charlie Cabarubias defeated Lorenz Celis with 6-4, 6-1.
Mark Pradel defeated Dave Villarba.
Francis Ricana defeated Kurt Canete with 6-0, 6-0.
Dale Estonilo walkover vs Greek Apduhan.

Photo above: (L-R) Tournament organizer John Pages, Tournament founder and Former 1st District Representative Cong. Jose “Dodong” Gullas of UV, Gullas Tennis top athlete Sally Mae Siso, Fritz Tabura and UV VP External Affairs Atty. Joseph Baduel, pose after their press conference on the 19th JRG Tennis tournament at University of the Visayas. (Photo by Mary Jane Catriz)