Tuesday, March 27, 2007
TENNIS CHAMPIONSHIP IN MANILA
There's something fun going on in Manila from March 26th to April 1st -- The 18th Mitsubishi Lancer International Junior Tennis Championship.It is being held at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Malate, Manila from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Admission is free.
Competitors from all over the world has arrived in Manila to participate in this major tennis tournament sponsored by ITF (International Tennis Federation).
I stopped by earllier today to check it out. First of all, I was pleasantly surprised at how well-maintained this entire sports complex is. Last time I was here was when I was in high school to attend an NCAA basketball game.
At the Tennis Center where the event is being held, I felt like I was in Forest Hills Tennis Club back in New York. There were so many young people with their coaches from all over the globe; reminding me of the faces one would usually find in the Big Apple. It was a fun and festive scene.
Today was merely the second day of the week-long event and I plan to come back before the weekend to take more human interest shots. I will also try to request from the event media coordinators to allow me to interview and photograph a couple of participants -- to find out how they like Manila.
Below are pictures of some players from the women's group; the one on the last photo is a Filipina, Z. Quitara.
Incidentally, for those unable to come to the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center, the final matches will be aired on NBN 4, on April 8th from 5:00-to-7:00pm. Replay of the game will be on April 14th at 10:00am-to-12:00pm.
.
Labels: Mitsubishi Lancer International Junior Tennis Championship
posted by Señor Enrique at 8:11 PM
20 Comments:
-
Sidney said... Thanks (again!) for the tip!
I will try to pass by and take some pictures.
I really want to show the other (more) glamorous side of Manila in my blog. I have the impression that I am not fair enough with the “City of Manila”.-
Señor Enrique said...
Sidney, I was actually hoping that I'd run into the kind Belgian Consul this Friday because I'm sure there are some Belgian kids in the competition. Help me look for him this Friday ... hehehe!
Manila is really a beautiful city despite its share of decaying architecture. Nonetheless, the spirit of a cool and glamourous city lingers on and quite evident here and there.
BTW, not too many folks may agree with me on this, but New York City and Manila has so much in common.-
NOYPETES said...
The Beatles 1 day only concert at the Rizal Memorial Football Stadium, July 4, 1966.(can't remember the exact year..Hippiedom's after effect))
(The only country that the Beatles were literally mugged on their departure at MIA after snobbing Imelda's invitation to dine at the Palace...John Lennon being ignorant about the Philippines thought that the "Palace" was in a jungle setting!...what can we expect from a Liverpool dropout.)
The popular 3 for .25 Centavos Lumpian'g gulay vendors at the Vito cruz side.
There used to be a nice mansion surrounded by acacia trees on Vito Cruz west of the stadium that housed the consulate of Vietnam in the 60's and 70's. That mansion was one of the true Manila architectures that stood alongside many of the old and gated estates in that area.-
-= dave =- said...
Ah tennis, for most it's mere eye-candy. But for me, it's the chance to be eye-candy. Kidding aside, I'm disappointed that my tennis racket is gathering dust while I have to content myself with badminton, the sport my officemates play.
I'd have to agree with you about New York, Señor E. They say it's a third-world city in the USA.-
Señor Enrique said...
Now, you've just brought up another interesting trivia, Noypetes -- "a nice mansion surrounded by acacia trees on Vito Cruz west of the stadium that housed the consulate of Vietnam in the 60's and 70's."
I'm going to have to find it. It may still be standing there somewhere.
As for that era you speak of, "Mr. Moonlight" and "Paperback Writer" were the tnes by The Beatles that dominated the airwaves then.-
Señor Enrique said...
Eye candy, eh .... :)
Tennis cured my loneliness during my early years in NYC, Dave. I met my best friend and many other friends by playing that game.
I've switched to badminton mainly because it does not require much running after a ball as tennis.
You will one day see NYC for yourself, Dave.-
Señor Enrique said...
I had fun taking these shots, Kyels. I guess, having played the game for many years help me anticipate the shots better than a photographer who never played the game :)
-
said... great shots of the players. =)
re. your comment about nyc and manila having a lot in common, well, i agree. =)-
Señor Enrique said...
Thanks, Carla!
Glad you agree with me about NYC and Manila. Well, you should know, you spent quite some time in NYC yourself :)-
said...
eye candy especially with Sharapova at the helm :)
rizal memorial built in the 1930s is the first sports complex in Asia, the coliseum sports the Art Deco style, and even Babe Ruth scored homeruns there :)-
said...
uy that's nice... we're hosting an international event...the last time i watched there was when the SEA games were help here in the philippines...
-
said...
held yun not help, hehehe
-
said...
The former vietnamese consulate is still there although in a sad state of decay and badly in need of repair. It is beside the parking lot that is adjacent to the Orchid Garden Suite hotel.
-
Señor Enrique said...
Really, Tito? Babe Ruth played at Rizal Stadium? Whow!
-
Señor Enrique said...
Yes, Lino, this is an nternational event! Make sure your bring your camera!
-
Señor Enrique said...
Thanks for the info, Juan!
I wonder where one can gain permission to enter and take photos of the place. I'm intrigued.-
Wil said...
interesting. i wonder if they have professional tournaments though. never heard of one in the philippines. only hong kong, thailand(?), china, japan, etc. No ATP or WTA tourneys in the Pinas?
-
Señor Enrique said...
Nothing doing, Wil.
I don't think there's a major multinational firm willing to put up a multi-million coffer for a major pro tennis tournament here in Manila.-
said...
Great shots... I love to watch tennis starts esp the women - Martina Hingis, Anna Kornikouva and in the nineties Gabriela Sabatini :) It's quite awesome to see these pros display their talent.
I had watched Chris Evert play her last games here in Toronto before she retired in the early nineties. She was VERY feminine and very good and that to me is a rare talent :) I can see Hingis in the same mold as Evert :)-
Señor Enrique said...
Christ Evert looked strikingly even more feminine and pretty, especially when paired against Billy Jean King ... hahaha!
Gabriella Sabatini I was once in love with -- gorgeous woman!
During the heydey of Sampras, I started preferring the women's matches because there were more exciting volleys in their games. The men were all power servers; less points won on volleying.
