John Franklin Kennedy Caacbay

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Palawan Open

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MANILA — Several PHILTA-ranked players and international netters from India are set to headline the 2026 Palawan Open, scheduled from May 22 to 31 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.Among the top local bets in the tournament—organized by the Palawan Group of Companies and sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA)—are PHILTA Rank No. 1 Alberto “AJ” Lim Jr. and No. 3 John Benedict Aguilar.Lim, who fell to Iggy Pantino in the Gentry Open Finals last October at the Colegio San Agustin, said he has since shifted his focus toward improvement.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2025/10/20/tennis-iggy-pantino-crowned-first-ever-gentry-open-men-s-singles-champ-1353">READ: Tennis: Iggy Pantino defeats AJ Lim, crowned first-ever Gentry Open men&#x27;s singles champ </a></div>“I&#x27;m not really thinking about the loss anymore. Just trying to move forward, trying to improve, for sure. I think I&#x27;m doing a lot of work. I started early this January. So, I think I&#x27;ll be fine,” said Lim.“I mean, not saying that I&#x27;m going to win the tournament, of course. But I think I&#x27;m feeling better. I&#x27;m more confident,” he added.Aguilar, for his part, expressed excitement over the opportunity to compete against foreign opposition.“I’m focused on improving my techniques and overall my fitness. I’m also excited to face international players,” he said.<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1776154309569Media (43).jpg" style="width:960px;display:block;height:auto" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="During the media launch of 2026 Palawan Open on April 14, 2026. Among those who are in attendance are players AJ Lim and John Benedict Aguilar, as well as Palawan Group of Companies founder and Chairman Bobby Castro. Handout photo"/>During the media launch of 2026 Palawan Open on April 14, 2026. Among those who are in attendance are players AJ Lim and John Benedict Aguilar, as well as Palawan Group of Companies founder and Chairman Bobby Castro. Handout photo </div>Indian tennis coach Yatharth Vidrohi Bhardwaj revealed that the Indian Tennis Federation will send four ITF-ranked players to raise the level of competition in the tennis event presented by the Philippine Sports Commission and backed by Gentry.According to Bhardwaj, a selection tournament will determine the final roster representing India.“We’ll be bringing in four top players,” he said. “There are eight players who are willing to come and play, and we are doing a selection of those players by a small tournament. We are getting support from Palawan to bring them.”Tournament organizers are likewise in talks with China and Thailand to send players, further elevating the intensity.Asked why they are organizing tennis grassroots tournaments, Palawan Group of Companies founder and chairman Bobby Castro, who is an enthusiast of the sport, said that they embrace the values learned in sports.&quot;This is more than just a tournament—it is a statement of who we are, what we believe in, and the future we are committed to building,&quot; said Castro.The tournament has a P2 million prize pool for winning participants.

Several PHILTA-ranked players and international netters from India are set to headline the 2026 Palawan Open, scheduled from May 22 to 31 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Several PHILTA-ranked players and international netters from India are set to headline the 2026 Palawan Open, scheduled from May 22 to 31 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Tennis: PHILTA-ranked players, top Indian netters to headline 2026 Palawan Open

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Tennis: PHILTA-ranked players, top Indian netters to headline 2026 Palawan Open

Kennedy Caacbay,

ABS-CBN News

Published April 14, 2026 04:28 PM PHT

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Updated April 15, 2026 01:13 AM PHT

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tennis

Palawan Open

2026 Palawan Open

Philippine Tennis Association

PHILTA

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