DAVAO CITY — The 2012 Mayor Inday Sara Duterte National Men and Women's Invitational Tennis Championship is set on March 15 to 18 at the Woodridge Park Tennis Club in Ma-a, this city, in commemoration of the 75th Araw ng Dabaw celebration.
Tournament director Juanito “Titong” Cansino of the Philippine Lawn Tennis (Philta XI) said eight top-rate players in the country both in the men and women’s division have confirmed participation.
Headed by the country’s No. 1 Johnny Arcilla and Anna Clarice Patrimonio, both from Manila, the players will be playing in the men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles.
Cansino said the four-day event is presented by For the Love of Tennis (FLOT) with Anton Ferrazzini as the over-all chairman with a total guaranteed cash prize of P216,000.
“We have repainted the courts already and have made some minor repairs. It’s all systems go. This is the first time that a women's open will be played here," said Cansino, also regional vice-president of Philta.
The tournament is co-presented by Merco, Selecta Ice Cream and Asia Traders Corp. (Slazenger Balls and Dunlop) while the grand sponsors are FLOT president Alejandro Bucu, Samuel Afdal of Philsaga Mining Corp. and SBF Drilling Resources Corp. and Jaap Vander Sluis of Ralph’s Wines and Spirits.
The premium sponsors are Robert Te of Holcim Phils., Engr. Hadji Faisal Hasiman of Alraf Const. & Enterprises and Coca-cola Bottlers Phils., Inc., while the major sponsors are Art Milan of DLPC, Alvin Uy of Motor One and Lechoneros, Mr. Willie de Leon of Stronghold Insurance, Cong. Antonio Lagdameo, Mrs. Grace Mercado, Mike Demetria, Brian Walker, Totoy Paglas of Paglas Corp., San Miguel Brewery Corp. and Casa Leticia Inn & Suites as the official hotel.
The minor sponsors are Jack Sandique, Bai Farida Pendatun, Green Apple Dental, Rising Dragon Taekwondo, Orient Glass, Jose Fedillaga, Eea Enterprises, Blackbeard Seafood Restaurant, Ferbuilt Plus.
Cansino said tickets will be sold at P150 per day for Feb. 15 to 17, P200 for Feb. 18 and P400 for the season or entire four days are now available at Merco Cabaguio and Woodridge Clubhouse. (PNA)
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