The nation's fastest rising talents vie for honors when the Mayor Rolen Paulino Jr. National Juniors tennis Championships unfurls Thursday in Olongapo City.

Valuable ranking points will be up for grabs across nine age categories.

The Group 1 tournament, hosted by the Olongapo Tennis Club, marks a significant return of the country's premier talent-search to the city after a seven-year absence.

The host city, renowned for producing skilled players like PJ Tierro, Jurence Mendoza and Nico Riego de Dios, is upbeat that the meet will serve as the launching pad of the next generation of players.

What makes the event so special is the fact that players who took part even became standouts in the academic scene, citing students from prestigious universities who have set a high standard for the city's young athletes.

They include Zaza Paulino (National University), Tata Paulino, Roman Floreza and Trysha Vytiaco (University of Santo Tomas), Mary Rivero, Axl Gonzaga and AJ Rivero (Ateneo de Manila University), Julian and Justine Mendoza and Jerome and Jonas Silva (University of the Philippines).

"They are the footsteps being followed by the young players of today," Paulino said.

The local lineup features strong contenders in various categories, including Jan Cadee Dagoon, Shiloh Cruz and Ayl Gonzaga among the girls, and Darwin Cosca, Andrei Torrente, Kirk Gonzaga, Anthony Cosca and John David Vytiaco in the boys' competitions.

Sanctioned by Philta, PPS-NTC, the tournament also features competitions in 10-unisex, 14- and 18-and-U doubles, both in boys' and girls' divisions.

Meanwhile, Chloe Mercado and Althea Liwag banner the girls' 18-and-U field, Sandra Bautista and Ave Maria Policarpio headline the 16- and 14-and-U classes, respectively, and multi-titled Maristella Torrecampo claims the top seeding in 12-and-U play.