Cebu hosts PH's first Intl Tennis Federation Masters Tour

The Manila Times

Cebu hosts PH's first Intl Tennis Federation Masters Tour  Cebu will host the Philippines’ first International Tennis Federation (ITF) Masters Tour event — the MT200 Asmara Cup — from Aug. 26 to Sept. 6, 2025, at the Asmara Urban Resort & Lifestyle Village in Banilad in Cebu City. The global circuit, staged in over 80 countries with more than 500 tournaments annually, featured players aged 30 and above, including former professionals and national champions. Organizers selected Cebu for its familiarity among players but noted it has never held a Masters-level competition.  More than 100 athletes from at least a dozen countries, including the Philippines, Japan, and the United States, will take part. Asmara founder Carlo Cordaro said the event positioned Cebu as a top destination for sports, wellness, and tourism, while Tournament Director Ilyn Hupano underscored its value in promoting cultural exchange and age-inclusive competition.  VIDEO BY KAISER JAN FUENTES  Subscribe to The Manila Times Channel - https://tmt.ph/YTSubscribe  Visit our website at https://www.manilatimes.net     Follow us:  Facebook - https://tmt.ph/facebook  Instagram - https://tmt.ph/instagram  Twitter - https://tmt.ph/twitter  DailyMotion - https://tmt.ph/dailymotion    Subscribe to our Digital Edition - https://tmt.ph/digital    Check out our Podcasts:  Spotify - https://tmt.ph/spotify  Apple Podcasts - https://tmt.ph/applepodcasts  Amazon Music - https://tmt.ph/amazonmusic  Deezer: https://tmt.ph/deezer  Stitcher: https://tmt.ph/stitcher Tune In: https://tmt.ph/tunein   #themanilatimes #tmtnews #philippines

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00:00Good question. I'm Ken from Tokyo, Japan and actually one of our IDF master's third section

00:09but I also am a tennis tournament organizer in Japan and we are running more than 600 in here in Asia

00:19official and local but and also we are receiving more than a couple of thousand players to our tournament

00:29which many players know about the seven and then but they don't have any opportunity to be here

00:41and I'll ask Mr. Avi that he's coming from Manila and he knows well about here and then uh

00:49fortunately uh we met again and kind of all and then uh I'm creating a passion of him

00:57actually too much passion right but and then I'm feeling something and then uh

01:03we've been talking three of us uh uh to hold it for a first ever tournament an official sanctioned by

01:12Ikea and we are our dream come true right now so and then we are receiving uh more than 15

01:21Japanese players here maybe almost most players the first time needed to hear so

01:27I don't know what I'll actually hear about that but I need to learn next two weeks and then uh I'd like

01:34explain about the uh seven to uh my Japanese player so I'll make it we are making an opportunity to

01:43visit here because the seven is a very high blend for all over the world you know that thank you

01:51at the moment we have like 11 countries joining and um 15 of the foreigners coming over because some of

02:00uh Chinese players will be coming from Japan where we used to be so Malaysia, Thailand, Portugal I think one

02:09of course our our very own will be joining here and uh Italy and then there's coming one from US Hong Kong

02:21and uh Thailand they are mostly coming over also back in Japan so we invited them over to you know secure

02:29the passage coming here in Cebu okay so to repeat what Miss Eileen has said there will be 12 nations

02:38competing the Philippines, Japan, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Italy, Argentina, Canada, Taiwan,

02:47Belgium and Malaysia and that marks MT 200 will be the first biggest international tennis tournament

02:54here in the Philippines which is an organic way to do construction we recycle water even our food

03:05is completely organic so it's a message to the city I did for the community I only say I hope I cannot

03:11lose money not making money never mind but we did something for Cebu and so I think as well I become in

03:17some way a destination but uh we want to sustain that and now it depends and I think it will be an

03:25interesting vehicle to promote Cebu as a tourist destination as well since there are some concern

03:33about the tourist presence we will provoke with many other things

04:03and I think it will be an infinite one who are true and one who will come to the country you will

04:08bear with you

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