Makati Sports Club's 1st open tennis tourney

The Makati Sports Club launched last July 29 the 1st MSC Men's and Ladies' Open Tennis Tournament 2011 where 140 professional tennis players from all over the country have signed up to compete. 

This is the first time in its history that the Makati Sports Club has organized a sporting event for the country's professional tennis players and top collegiate players.    

“We are holding this tournament to promote the sport in the country,” MSC Comptroller Ron Limbo said during the opening.  Also, the recent short-lived stint of 18-year old netter Jeson Patrombon at the Wimbledon Junior Boys’ Singles Tournament motivated the club to run the tournament to prepare younger players to the rigors of local and international competitions.

 

Major sponsor is Easy Pha-max Phils. Inc. (EPPI), the country's leading distributor of  wheatgrass-based health products carrying their brand name in different forms - powder, tablets and ready-to-drink in cans.  Other sponsors include Firefly Lighting and tennis racquet maker Babolat.

The official tournament began August 1 and the championship games for the men and females divisions are scheduled on August 7.

The grand winner for the mens’ division will walk away with PhP22,000 while the champion in the female category will take home PhP10,000 cash. Cash prizes will be given to runner-up players and those who will reach round of 16, round of 8, quarterfinals, and semi-finals. Total consolation prizes at stake amount to Php 68,000. 

Expected to reach the finals in the male division include top-seeded players Johnny Arcilla, Elbert Anasta, PJ Tiemo, and Rolando Ruel Jr.  while the Patrimonio sisters Anna Christine and Anna Clarice, Marian Jade Capadocia, and Aileen Rogan are widely considered in the female division.

    

EPPI chair and CEO Edward Ling said the company's sponsorship abides by their advocacy for healthy lifestyles. In a brief interview, he said "We are strongly pushing for preventive healthcare. In every way we can, we encourage everyone to shift to a healthy lifestyle that includes eating healthy foods and increasing their physical activities like this one, playing tennis."

Limbo said the club has been been serving wheatgrass at its restaurant and dining rooms for some time now.