By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Unified Tennis Philippines (UTP) has selected 16 junior players for its 2026 national team following the conclusion of the UTP Elite Eight Playoffs held recently in Negros Occidental’s San Carlos City.

The tournament featured 64 of the country’s top junior players, with 32 qualifiers each from Luzon-National Capital Region and Visayas-Mindanao regions.

Participants earned their spots through a series of UTP-sanctioned events and tournaments over the past year.

Players competed in boys’ and girls’ divisions across four age categories — 12-, 14-, 16-, and 18-and-under.

Finalists and champions in each division secured places on the national team.

The selected players will represent the Philippines in two junior tournaments in Malaysia scheduled for November.

The first event will be held in Penang during the third week of the month, followed by a second tournament in Perlis in the fourth week.

In the girls’ division, Arianna Tiongko and Kyla Caguioa qualified in the 12-and-under category; Ma. Caroliean Fiel and Shaner Gabaldon in the 14-and-under; Mitchellen Alexa Cruspero and Kathlyn Bugna in the 16-and-under; and Avegail Joy Ansay and Cielo May Gonzales in the 18-and-under division.

The boys’ team is composed of Everett Enzo Niere and Val Ian Gairanod in the 12-and-under category; Cristiano Matteo Calingasan and Xian Wynn Calagos in the 14-and-under; Matthew Morris and Rafael Monte de Ramos in the 16-and-under; and Aaron Kevin Tabura and Juvels Velos in the 18-and-under division.

UTP President Jean Henri Lhuillier said the playoffs served as the culmination of a year-long qualifying process for the country’s top junior players.

The Elite Eight Playoffs have been held in San Carlos City for four straight years.

The event was sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association./ASC, WDJ