competition. Perfecto Alina, Jr. won the prestigious National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Singles Championships held in Florida in 1975, followed by Beeyong Sison in 1976 and Eddie Gayon in 1978. Alina and Sison were teammates at Odessa Junior College in Texas. All three were named to the All-American Team. The NJCAA was also won by the world’s top players like Mikael Pernfors (Sweden), Brad Gilbert (USA) and Ross Walker (England). By this time, the Filipino tennis scholar-athletes have become a favorite and important component of American Universities and their athletic programs mainly because of the Filipinos’ industriousness and high percentage of graduates.

1980’s also saw many youngsters follow the U.S. College trail after successful international junior stints like Felix Barrientos (Louisiana State University), Roland So (also LSU), Antonio del Rosario (Sta. Clara University), Ringo Navarrosa (University of Arizona), Antonio Payumo (Notre Dame) and the country’s current No. 1 player, Joseph Lizardo (Temple University). The ladies group was led by Pia Tamayo (Princeton); the Castillejo sisters and Olivarez’ sisters, Edna and Eva, the SEA Games Gold Medalist; Janet Gomez, former PCA Open champion. It is safe to conclude that in the history of Philippine athletics, no other sport in the country has equalled the success of tennis in promoting higher education for its athletes.

During the era of international tennis boom in the 70’s and early 80’s, the Philippines was not able to capitalize in the popularity of the game to establish grassroots programs which integrated on all levels of physical education. Inspite of the boost given to the country by the annual Professional Tennis Grand Prix Tournament between 1973 and 1978, which brought in the world’s top 20 players, there was no substantial increase in the construction of tennis courts and training facilities in the country.

RMSC remained the nation’s tennis center, the indoor coliseum, the open arena (now Ninoy Aquino Stadium) and the Rizal Tennis Courts, continues to hold most of the national events and training programs where access have become difficult for participants and spectators alike due to ever-increasing population heavy traffic, pollution from auto emissions, and inadequate facilities.

Most of the provincial sports capitals were virtually neglected, and as a result, strong talented athletes from other parts of the country became discouraged to participate because of lack of financial and technical assistance. Regular trips to Manila became too expensive and difficult. Only a handful of gifted athletes made it to national tournaments through sheer determination and hard work led by Romeo Rafon (Bicol), who practically dominated the local tennis scene in the late 70’s. Then there was Manuel Valleramos (Davao), lauded by his peers for his work ethics, Ramon Navalta and Edgar Rizarri (both of Cebu), Danilo Pila (Davao), Ringo Navarrosa (Leyte), Bong Battad (Ilocos) and Rod Rafael (Bicol). Almost all tournaments were centered around the Metro-Manila area. Development programs were left to municipalities and their tennis clubs with meager funds and resources.