Bugna banners rising stars in Palawan netfest

Kathlyn Bugna headlines a deep field of young aces in the Puerto Princesa Junior Age Group Tennis Championships, seeking another dominant campaign in the girls’ 16U and 18U divisions as the Palawan Pawnshop-supported talent-search program continues its mission of discovering and developing the country’s next generation of tennis stars.

The Batang Onay/RSB standout from La Carlota, whose string of impressive performances in the nationwide talent-search series has established her as one of the country’s most promising young players, is again keeping expectations in check, choosing to focus on the challenge ahead rather than the prospect of another sweep of the two premier girls’ divisions.

The 18U category, in particular, promises a stern test, with Ashley Garcia, Freyah Delaska, Angela Gozon, Mildred Mantiza, Ysabel Balingit, Alveya Ibba and Moriah Laput among those ready to challenge Bugna for the title.

The Philta- and Universal Tennis-sanctioned Group 2 tournament gets underway on Thursday at the Karawatan-RVM Complex Iwahig courts in Palawan, bringing together promising players in various age categories in another showcase of emerging Philippine tennis talent.

Bugna’s campaign also highlights the continuing grassroots development efforts of the Palawan Pawnshop program under president and CEO Bobby Castro, which has helped provide young players from different parts of the country with competitive opportunities to hone their skills, gain tournament experience, and pursue their tennis ambitions.

The girls’ 16U division likewise shapes up as an equally competitive affair, with rising contender Etha Seno, Sofia Aguilera, Maria Shan Tuyor and Dominique Garcia joining Laput and Ibba in the hunt for the crown.

On the boys’ side, Krelz Gecosala and Julius Otoc are expected to figure prominently in the 18U division, although Jhazz Fernando and Hazer Malicay are among those seeking to upset the projected title showdown.