Dagoon, Cablitas brace for Zentro duel

The country’s longest-running tennis talent-search shifts to Pulilan, Bulacan this week, with Jan Cadee Dagoon and Astrid Cablitas leading a stellar cast in the Zentro Juniors Age-Group Championships beginning Thursday at the Zentro courts and Pulilan Tennis Club.

Dagoon returns to the junior tennis spotlight brimming with confidence as she shoots for a double crown in the 16U and 18U divisions of the weeklong tournament, which marks the resumption of the Palawan Pawnshop junior circuit following another successful swing through Mindanao in September.

The Group 2, Philta-sanctioned event has drawn a maximum field of 256 players from across the country, with the boys’ and girls’ 12U, 14U, 16U and 18U divisions all featuring 32-player draws.

The strong turnout underscores the growing interest in highly competitive junior tournaments, with players chasing not only championship honors but also valuable ranking points across multiple divisions.

Dagoon and Cablitas headline the two premier girls’ singles divisions, with Ayl Gonzaga, Michael Suarez, Ava Banson, Lilith Rufino, Claire Alcala and Amanda Barrido also in the 16U mix.

Gonzaga, Suarez and Banson move up to the 18-and-U field, where they will be joined by Claire Casiller, Ashley Garcia and Sofia Demadara in a deep and competitive cast in the tournament presented by Dunlop under the Palawan Pawnshop junior tennis program initiated by president Bobby Castro, with support from ICON Golf & Sports and Palawan Group of Companies.

Martin Paulsen, Vivan Garg, Anthony Cosca and Troan Vytiaco lead the boys’ 16U roster, while Gavin Kraut headlines the premier 18U division that also features Paulsen, Vytiaco, Cosca and Garg, along with Kianne Cunanan, Raphael Wong and Lucas Gordon.

The tournament will also showcase the country’s emerging young talents in the 14U and 12U divisions.

Ella Paglalunan, Barrido, Rufino and Anica Palacio spearhead the girls’ 14U roster, while Jan Villeno, Juan Antonio Cablitas, Raven Licayan and Godfrey Buan II are among those tipped to contend for the boys’ crown.