The Palawan Group of Companies has officially partnered with Gentry Timepieces to stage the Palawan Open 2026 – the biggest Tennis Tournament in the Philippines, scheduled from May 22 to 31 at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. Sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association as a Group A event, the tournament carries a prize pool of ₱2 million and is open to both local and international players, strengthening its position as one of the country’s premier competitive tennis platforms.
The partnership was officially launched through a contract signing and press conference attended by Palawan Group executives, led by Founder and Chairman Bobby L. Castro, President and CEO Karlo M. Castro, and Chief Marketing Officer Bernard V. Kaibigan, together with Gentry Timepieces headed by Hayb Anzures, alongside coaches, top-ranked players, and media partners. Under the Palawan Group’s Sports and Development program led by Bobby Mangunay, organizers said the 2026 edition is designed to create more opportunities for rising athletes by giving them exposure to both local and international competition, while also strengthening the country’s tennis ecosystem through a structured and highly competitive platform.
Bobby L. Castro, Palawan Group Founder and Chairman, shared that “The launch of the Palawan Tennis Open is a culmination of my dream to have the company that I started from the ground to support budding tennis players at the grassroots level. It is our way of building a community that champions healthy competition, camaraderie, and excellence. Together, we share a vision: to elevate the game of tennis and to create opportunities that inspire the next generation.”
Castro also highlighted the importance of early support systems in shaping world-class athletes, pointing to Alex Eala as a strong example of Filipino talent succeeding internationally. He noted that her early exposure to Palawan Pawnshop Tennis Tournaments played a role in her development, highlighting how global champions can emerge from local programs when given proper opportunity, structure, and encouragement.
The press conference was also attended by key figures in the tennis community, including Coach John Mari Altiche, Coach Yatharth Vidrohi Bhardwaj, PHILTA Rank No. 1 Alberto Lim Jr., and PHILTA Rank No. 3 John Benedict Aguilar, along with other coaches and sports stakeholders. Their participation reflected strong support from both coaching leaders and top-ranked athletes, showcasing the tournament’s credibility and competitive depth.
Representing the partner organization, Hayb Anzures of Gentry Timepieces expressed strong support for the collaboration: “We were very lucky to have Palawan and Sir Bobby with us in organizing the event, and we are truly grateful for that partnership. We’ve achieved a lot in 2025, and I believe we are now even more aligned with Palawan in our goal of bringing the recognition that the tennis community truly deserves.”
Bernard V. Kaibigan, Palawan Group Chief Marketing Officer, stressed that the initiative goes beyond a single event and represents a long-term movement for Philippine sports development. “Together, we are not just staging a tournament. We are building a movement; one that will discover and nurture the next generation of athletes who will one day carry our flag with pride on global tennis courts. I, for one, a sports enthusiast and a firm believer in Filipino talent, am so excited for the lives that this initiative is bound to change.”
The Palawan Open 2026 is expected to feature a diverse field of professional, collegiate, and emerging players from the Philippines and abroad, making it a key platform for high-level competition and athlete development. With international participation also anticipated, the event continues to grow as a regional tennis fixture that elevates the standard of play while expanding opportunities for exposure and advancement.
Interested players are encouraged to register now through the UTR platform to secure their slot in one of the country’s biggest and most competitive tennis events of the year.