JUANITO "Titong" Cansino got a fresh four-year mandate as Philippine Tennis Association Region 11-A vice president in an election witnessed by Philta secretary general Romeo Magat at the Ecoland Phase IV Tennis Club courts Saturday afternoon. Cansino ran unopposed.
Club presidents and duly athorized representatives present during the election were Dr. June Anne Grino of Malita Tennis Club, Josephine Mendez dela Pena (Padada Tennis Club), Roland Diamante (Digos City Tennis Club), Manuel Manulat (Sto. Tomas, Davao del Norte), Leo "Bong" Gervacio (Mintal Tennis Club), Balong Juanico (Fortune Tennis Club of Davao), Fely Lopez (Babak Tennis Club), Joel Casicas (Maco Lawn Tennis Club) and Carlo Magno Manajero (Eco 4 Tennis Club).
"Congratulations to Mr. Cansino and to all of you. This is the most orderly election I had witnessed so far," Magat said.
Magat, along with Philta assistant executive director Tom Falcis, came not just to witness the election but also to unite the tennis community in the region.
Magat said the Philta board decided to split the two existing tennis organizations in the region -- the Cansino-led Philta group and the Davao Association of Tennis Clubs (Datec) -- as the new Philta Region 11-A and Philta Region 11-B, respectively.
"There is really no point of confusion. Both regional associations can co-exist because we will be the one to regulate the scheduling of tournaments. We will make sure that there will be no conflict of schedule whatsoever. The members and players of both groups can join in each other's events and that is very good for tennis here," Magat said.
He said they have handled similar situation in other parts of the country where Philta regional associations have to be split into Region A and B. The Davao Region, according to him, is no exception being a very large territory.
Magat also lauded Cansino for his dedication to promote grassroots tennis development by conducting various tournaments and clinics every year.
"As our former president Col. Buddy Andrada, who is now commissioner of the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), said Mr. Cansino is the only RVP who was able to do what he did for tennis," Magat said.
Cansino manages the annual prestigious Smart Head Junior Tennis Satellite Circuit that usually has 10 to 12 legs throughout the country.
In Davao City alone, he had established the free registration city government-funded Araw ng Dabaw, Kadayawan and Pamaskong Handog tennis tournaments being held every year. He also supports other club's events in other parts of the region.
Jonelle Llavore, meanwhile, was elected as Philta RVP for Region 10 via unanimous vote in the polls held in Cagayan de Oro City on Sunday. MLSA