FUTURE tennis stars will take center stage as Smart Sports in partnership with Chris Sports and HEAD
unveil the 12th staging of the biggest age-group national tennis tour in the country – the Smart
presents HEAD Junior Tennis Tour Satellite Circuit 2010.
Sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA), the age-group tournament is aimed at
discovering new talents, who will earn ranking points in a two-month tennis tour event.
Chris Sports, a leading sports retail shop, in cooperation with Head have joined hands with Smart
Sports in embarking on a countrywide campaign to help strengthen grassroots sports development.
The Smart presents HEAD Junior Tennis Tour Satellite Circuit is open every summer to give aspiring
young tennis players a worthy summer vacation through this one-of-a-kind elite project that has been
running since 1999.
Chris Sports is very enthusiastic about the event as it has been its privilege to
consistently provide venues nationwide to find talents and future world-class athletes .The event
is on its 12th successful year and is being mounted together with the gracious support of Smart
Sports as its presenter.
The event will be open in different age categories – 10-year-and under (unisex), 12-and-under
(boys), 14-and-under (boys), 16-and-under (boys), 18-and-under (boys), 12-and-under (girls),
14-and-under (girls), 16-and-under (girls) and 18-under (girls).
One among the many discoveries of this junior tennis circuit include reigning junior tennis player
Francis Casey Alcantara, who rose to prominence when he won in a doubles championship in one of the
world’s tennis Grand Slam – the French Open.
“Through these tournaments we help mold the values and attitudes of kids and the youth all over
the country by getting fit and involved in the sport of tennis. Our real partners are the parents,
guardians, PE teachers, tennis instructors, who altogether helped us in encouraging these players
become better at their game through continuous training,” said Arleen Lindo, Chris Sports
marketing manager.
The first stop of the Head Junior Tennis Tour Satellite Circuit will be on March 27 in Cagayan de
Oro where young netters will vie for a spot in the prestigious Junior Masters to be held at the end
of the year.
After the Cagayan de Oro leg, the event will be held in different key areas:
Zamboanga City (April 5-7), Digos City (April 10 -12), Davao City (April 15-17), Lapu-Lapu City
(April 20-23), Cebu City (April 24-27), Panglao, Bohol City (April 29 – May 2), Dumaguete City
(May 4-6), Bacolod City ( May 8-10), Iloilo City ( May 12-15), Baguio City ( May 18- 21) and finally
MetroManila (May 24 -30).
The organizers recognized the importance of regional sports events which transforms arenas into big
social gatherings. The magnitude of support of locals and the local government in the provinces are
immense since they consider events like these as a representation of their locality, which shows the
Filipino’s regionalistic fervor.
“The aim of the organizers and supporters of the event is to provide the venue for the youth to
earn points and to showcase their talents. PHILTA accredits these tournaments. Secondly, we want to
motivate the players, the parents of the players and the tennis tournament officials and coaches to
join and support the cause, hence, we are offering attractive and worthwhile prizes and
incentives,” said HEAD Managing Director Liza Tang.
Smart Sports head Patrick Gregorio for his part is enthusiastic about the tourney because it
fulfills the vision of Philippine Long Distance Telephone Company (PLDT) and Smart Communications
Chairman Manny V Pangilinan to promote sports as a driving force for the country’s economic
progress.
Chris Sports’ presence is felt all over the country with 27 branches including Glorietta 3, SM
Megamall, Festival Mall, SM North Edsa, Cebu, Marikina and the recently opened The Annex (SM North
Edsa) branch. As one of the foremost sports retail chain, it has become synonymous with the
attribute “high-quality sports equipment.”
Interested participants may call Fatima at tel. nos. (02) 925-1578 and (02) 925-2391 or you can
text SMART-Head space, full name, space, and send to 09087432405. You may also visit their website
at www.chrissports.net.
