Lucena bets vie in Hong Kong

After a successful participation in Bali, the Lucena pickleball players will be back to compete in the Oakley Hong Kong Pickleball Championships 2023 from 3 to 5 November at the HKCTA Tennis Center.

Rising star Gaby Zoleta, the College of Saint Benilde lawn tennis standout and niece of Southeast Asian Games gold medalists Bien and Bambi Zoleta, will banner the Lucena City Pickleball Club in the prestigious event that stakes a total prize money of $20,000.

The 20-year-old Zoleta is coming off a successful campaign in the World Pickleball Championships 2023 in Bali last September where she picked up a silver medal in the women's singles 19+ category.

Zoleta will join Aaliyah Jullao in the women's singles 19+ event and will partner with Anya Uy in the mixed doubles 19+ class, where Sorren Emprese and Natashja Emprese will also see action.

Meanwhile, Zoleta's father, Karl, will also be competing as he partners with JR Salvacion in the men's doubles 35+ event, where Kang Mogol and Allan Yap will also shoot for gold medals.

Other Lucena City bets who will compete in this prestigious event organized by the Hong Kong Pickleball Club are Odilon Tayag and John Buhay as well as Dennis Firme and Russel Fallarina in men's doubles 50+ category, Anya Uy in women's singles 19+ event, Yap and Ayen Pureza in the mixed doubles 35+ class, and Amanda Zoleta and Natashja Emprese in the women's doubles 19+ event.