The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
FROM promising young players looking to make their mark to seasoned campaigners eager to show they still have plenty left in the tank, the 43rd Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open will once again bring together different generations of tennis players when it returns to the PCA courts in Paco, Manila, from Nov. 2 to Dec. 13.
Presented by the Palawan Group of Companies, the annual tournament will feature eight categories covering junior competition, school and collegiate divisions, men’s and ladies’ team tennis, the men’s and ladies’ open events, and men’s doubles for the 40s, 50s, 60s and above.
More than P1.3 million in prize money will be offered across the junior and senior divisions, giving participants added motivation as they compete for titles in one of the country’s established tennis tournaments.
Tournament organizers unveiled the details of this year’s edition during a media kickoff Thursday at the PCA Complex in Manila.
Present at the event were PCA Open committee representative Ivan Ong, Palawan Group of Companies chairman and founder Bobby Castro, chief marketing officer Bernard Kaibigan, PCA Open committee members Roland Kraut and Chris Cuarto, and Palawan Group sports program and development director Bobby Mangunay.
Castro expressed hope that the tournament would encourage more Filipinos to appreciate tennis and inspire young people to pick up a racket and become part of the sport. He also wished the players good luck, urging them to give their best while enjoying the competition.
The junior age group division will open the tournament on Nov. 2 and run through Nov. 8. The inter-high school competition follows on Nov. 13, 14, 15, 20, 21 and 22.
The men’s team tennis matches are scheduled for Nov. 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29, and Dec. 12, while the ladies’ team competition will be held on Nov. 18, 20, 23, 25, 27 and 29.
Inter-college action is set for Nov. 27, 28 and 29, before resuming on Dec. 4, 5 and 6. The men’s doubles competition for the 40s, 50s, 60s and above divisions will follow from Dec. 8 to 12.
The spotlight will then turn to the men’s and ladies’ open divisions, where some of the country’s top players are expected to compete.
Qualifying matches are scheduled from Nov. 30 to Dec. 4, followed by the main draw from Dec. 5 to 13.