Francisco, Gabuat eye top finish in PPS Lanao

THE PPS-PEPP national junior tennis circuit returns to Lanao del Norte with Thomas Gabuat and Sanschena Francisco leading close to 200 youngsters chasing top honors in nine age-group categories and ranking points at the Lala and MCL courts.

The Group 2 tournament got going Sunday with hostilities in the boys’ 18-and-under side that drew 32 players, the same number of field clashing in the 14- and 16-and-under classes of the event presented by Dunlop.

Gabuat, from Zamboanga, Sibugay, gains the top seeding in the premier division that also features No. 2 Kale Villamar, Pete Bandala, Jan Docor, Mark Dagooc, Vinz Bering, Aljun Tizon a nd James Yosores.

Villamar, on the other hand, headlines the 16-U play, along with Benedict Lim, who shone in the PPS-PEPP Dimaporo National Juniors two weeks ago in Tubod after ruling the 14-U category and posting a runner-up finish in 16-U division to clinch the MVP honors.

The 14-year-old Lim, a native of Maranding, Lala, goes all-out in a bid to score back-to-back victories in his age-group division that also features Bandala, Vincent Nadal, Deem Lanticse, Daniel Neri, Vincent Aguilar, Crislance Iglupas and Brent Baranggot.

Meanwhile, Francisco braces for a fierce duel with Gwen Bandolis in the girls’ 18-U side of the tournament sponsored by Lala, Lanao del Norte Mayor Angel Yap and Vice Mayor Cesar Yap.

A big chunk of the pressure has been taken off Obiena since he has already qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics after he leapt to a 5.82-meter qualifying mark in Sweden on July 3. With this, some of the spotlight is now on the 25-year-old Richardson, the 2021 Southeast Asian Games Sprint Queen, who will compete in the women’s 100and 200-meter races. Richardson was ranked behind China’s Liang Xiao Jing last year with her personal best of 11.31 seconds. She timed 12.4 seconds during the recent Southeast Asian Games in Cambodia, where she failed to defend her crown. Richardson is at no. 3 in the 200-meters with her 2022 personal best of 23.12 seconds, ahead of Mei Kodama of Japan (23.26 seconds).

Also getting the brunt of the pressure is the relay team of Bernalyn Bejoy, Robyn Brown, Jessel Lumapas and Maureen Schrijvers, who set a new Philippine record of 3:37.75 during the SEA Games in Phnom Penh. Bejoy and Lumapas will also be in the mixed relay team with Joyme Sequita, who was part of the gold-winning 4x400 relay team in the SEAG.

Members of the 34-member national squad start leaving today for Bangkok.

Obiena recently bagged a silver medal in the Meeting International de Sotteville held in Rouen, France last Saturday. He cleared 5.72 meters on a single attempt, after skipping the first four heights.

Action starts on Wednesday at the Supachalasai National Stadium, Bangkok in Thailand.

Fil-American sprinter Eric Cray is also coming, along with long jumper Janry Ubas, and both are seeking Olympic qualifications through the points that they will earn.

“I’m here to fully support UST. This is my school, dito ako lumaki, mahal ko ang school na ito,” said Chua, who got the green light from SMC president and CEO Ramon S. Ang to support the program.

“The only thing we have to do is to prove ourselves with how we play. If we’re gonna work together, we’re strong.”

Chua personally appeared before Rector Fr. Richard Ang, OP, Institute of Physical Education and Athletics (IPEA) director Fr. Rodel Cansancio, OP, and the Growling Tigers team.

“I would like to assure you UST will be giving it’s full support to the team and everybody involved. We hope we will make it good in the coming seasons,” said Ang.

“This is the moment we’ve all been waiting for: the full support of coach Al. Coach Al is yung pinaka-magaling nating na-recruit,” said Cansancio.

Chua also solidified Petron’s commitment as a major sponsor for the men’s basketball team.

It’s a homecoming of sorts for Chua who was a part of the Glowing Goldies team and the team captain back in 1989. He reunites with Pido Jarencio, the new UST head coach and his former teammate, as they seek to bring glory back to Espana.

“Matagal na kaming magkasama ni coach Al at masaya kami na sinamahan niya kami dito. Isa lang ang hangarin namin lahat, yung maibalik ang korona sa Espana dito sa bagong simula natin sa UST,” said Jarencio.

UST is heading to this campaign reinvigorated with holdovers Nic Cabanero and Adama Faye leading the charge and the arrival of rookies SJ Moore and Mark Llemit.