Kathlyn Bugna returns to the Palawan Pawnshop junior tennis circuit seeking another dominant run as she headlines the stellar field in the Bagong Pilipinas Juniors Age Group Tennis Championships at the Capitol indoor and outdoor courts in Isulan, Sultan Kudarat.

The Batang Onay/RSB standout from La Carlota has emerged as the player to beat in the nationwide circuit on the strength of her sustained stellar play. She is coming off a three-title haul in the recent Bagong Pilipinas Manila leg, where she ruled the girls’ 16U and 18U singles and the 18U doubles crown.

Bugna will be tested anew as the week-long tournament, a Group 2 event sanctioned by Philta and the Universal Tennis Rating, got underway Thursday with competitions in the boys’ and girls’ 12U, 14U and 16U divisions. The premier 18U category fires off Friday.

The Isulan stop is also the second leg of another Mindanao swing under the government’s Bagong Pilipinas sports agenda, which seeks to strengthen grassroots sports, promote wellness and expand opportunities for young athletes through public training facilities and youth athletic programs nationwide.

The circuit moves to Kidapawan for its third stop, with the Kidapawan Juniors Championship set from 16 to 22 September at the Kidapawan City courts in Cotabato.

Also tipped to figure prominently in the boys’ premier division of the event, sponsored by Gov. Pax Ali Mangudadatu and supported by A.C. Garcia Corp., Gareco Garcia Refinery Corp., A.C. Garcia Group of Companies and A.C. Garcia Palm Oil Mill Corp., are Krelz Gecosala and Jhazz Fernando.