Dagoon, Cablitas brace for Zentro Juniors tennis showdown

MANILA, Philippines — 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 (Oct. 1) 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 16- and 18-and-under 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’ 12-, 14-, 16- and 18-and-under 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 16-and-U mix…