LOVE-ALL: Lawn Tennis Stages A Smashing Comeback

October 25, 2026

TALISAY CITY — In his 2009 autobiography, eight-time Grand Slam champion Andre Agassi once quipped— and I quote— “It’s no accident, I think, that tennis uses the language of life. Advantage, service, fault, break, love, the basic elements of tennis are those of everyday existence, because every match is a life in miniature.” This couldn’t have been truer during the inaugural installment of the Private Schools Invitational Junior Tennis Tournament on the afternoon of October 24, 2026 at the Joshbianc Sport in Talisay City, Negros Occidental.

With Alex Eala kicking up a storm on the international tennis scene, renewed interest and enthusiasm for lawn tennis are at an all-time high. This motivated the tournament’s head of finance, Therese Montepio, to tap Bacolod City Tennis Club’s Eduardo “Jun” Abay Jr. as tournament manager, and rally the athletes, parents, coaches, and public officials to spearhead a tennis tournament exclusive to junior players aged 6 to 18 years old.

Eight of the top private institutions in Negros Occidental took part in this epic battle of attrition, namely: High Bacolod Tay Tung School, Lamblight International School, St. Scholastica’s Academy, St. John’s Institute – Main, St. John’s Institute – North Point Campus, St. Joseph High School – La Salle, the University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos, and the University of St. La Salle. Here are the tournament results at a glance:

ELEMENTARY DIVISION Boys’ Singles A Gold: Vito Benedicto – University of St. La Salle Silver: Mehaan Gidwani – St. John’s Institute (North Point) Boys’ Singles B Gold: Cazimero Gallego – Bacolod Tay Tung High School Silver: Vincent Maxen Acuña – University of St. La Salle Bronze: Kahlil Dinsay – St. John’s Institute (North Point) Boys’ Doubles Gold: Adam Gregory Mijares / Radley Gavyn Sante – St. Scholastica’s Academy Silver: Nathan Valderrama / Zachary Cuaycong – University of St. La Salle Girls’ Singles A Gold: Aneah Caitlin Villalba – St. John’s Institute (North Point) Silver: Jwyneth Beatrice Chavez – St. Scholastica’s Academy Bronze: Kalene Amaris Arcos – University of St. La Salle Girls’ Singles B Gold: Jaimee Ysabelle Sy – St. Scholastica’s Academy Silver: Vielle Puentevella – St. John’s Institute (North Point) Bronze: Caelah Gallego – Bacolod Tay Tung High School Girls’ Doubles Gold: Kristianna Larisse Bautista / Isabella Therese Becijos – St. Scholastica’s Academy Silver: Vyanah Celestine Chua / Natalia Escalante – St. John’s Institute (North Point) Bronze: Chezka Lirazan / Kailey Sandoval – University of St. La Salle Mixed Doubles Gold: Adam Gregory Mijares / Jaimee Ysabelle Sy – St. Scholastica’s Academy Silver: Jwyneth Beatrice Chavez / Radley Gavyn Sante – St. Scholastica’s Academy Bronze: Kalene Amaris Arcos / Zachary Cuaycong – University of St. La Salle SECONDARY DIVISION Boys’ Singles A Gold: Rothmuel Drig Escobar – Lamblight International School Silver: Matteo Soliva – St. John’s Institute (North Point) Bronze: Dominic Antipuesto – University of St. La Salle Boys’ Singles B Gold: Rafael Torres – University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos Silver: Ivo Rey Cantillas – University of St. La Salle Boys’ Doubles Gold: Vincent Gabriel Dela Paz / Rheygn Georem Gargaceran – St. Joseph High School Silver: Kyle Edric Ballescas / Jhon Ezekiel Junsay – University of St. La Salle Bronze: David Josh Inocian / Karlos Lorenzo Bautista – St. Scholastica’s Academy Girls’ Singles A Gold: Althea Lozana – St. Joseph High School Silver: Andrica Javellana – St. John’s Institute (North Point) Bronze: Julia Ivanne Sy – St. Scholastica’s Academy Naomi Skye Ledesma – St. John’s Institute (Main) Girls’ Singles B Gold: Zhynaiah Faye Gargaceran – St. Joseph High School Silver: Janine Chua – St. John’s Institute (Main) Bronze: Nadea Okada – University of St. La Salle Girls’ Doubles Gold: Cheska Therese Montepio / Reanne Ysabelle Sing Benco – St. Scholastica’s Academy Silver: Kendra Gail Villasana / Therese Madeleine Butas – Lamblight International School Bronze: Kailey Sandoval / Chezka Lirazan – University of St. La Salle Mixed Doubles Gold: Vincent Gabriel Dela Paz / Althea Lozana – St. Joseph High School Silver: Zhynaiah Faye Gargaceran / Rheygn Georem Gargaceran – St. Joseph High School Bronze: Ivo Rey Cantillas / Nadea Okada – University of St. La Salle

In tennis, “love” means a score of zero, but I have never seen such an abundance of the word as I did in this tournament that has now become a testament to teamwork and the bayanihan spirit. Additionally, the Oxford English Dictionary posits that the word “love” in relation to the sport means that a scoreless player stays on the court purely for the love of the game. It is, by all accounts, as heartwarming as it gets. Speaking of the players, they have conquered insurmountable odds to reach this stage of their journey. Even after learning that their beloved sport was defunded and consequently dissolved in Season 2026 of a highly anticipated intersport competition, they kept pushing forward. Parents and organizers remain hopeful that this nonprofit lawn tennis tournament will help safeguard their basic right to play and ensure their inclusion in activities sanctioned by local sports associations. Ludere est vivere— to play is to live. The entire tennis community would like to extend their sincere gratitude to the sponsors: Bugana Beach Dive & Resort Nobe Construction & Design Emmanuel’s Paddle Ground BCD Escala Logistics Dr. Mae Villalba OB-GYN Clinic Spring Clean Laundry Rolling Hills Group of Companies Monta Tennis Academy KK Parreno-Bautista Ultrasound and Perinatal Clinic Vice Governor Jose Benito “Joeben” Alonso Board Member Paula Alonso-Valderrama Congressman Jeffrey Ferrer Mayor Maria Rowena “Weng” Lopez-Lizares Samahang Weightlifting ng Pilipinas President Monico Puentevella Vice Mayor Claudio Jesus Raymundo “Kalaw” Puentevella Congressman Alfredo Abelardo “Albee” Benitez Congressman Javier Miguel “Javi” Benitez, and to the tournament committee for being calm and composed on the surface but paddling like the dickens underneath: Jovanie Sy, Ester Sy, Dr. Mae Marecel Villalba, Eileen Therese Benedicto, and Jessebel Abay.* (NCC)

About the Author: Nobe Cuatriz-Cantillas formerly wrote as a romance novelist for three wonderful publishing houses. More than ten years ago, she hung up her pen to focus on growing her procurement business, reading, and traveling in her downtime.