Mik Balce’s ITF World Junior Ranking Rises to No. 779

Manuel “Mik” Balce III of ABM/12-Anchieta emerged as the 18U boys champion of the PPS-PEPP Fr. Fernando Suarez Cup last January 20, 2018. The week-long competition was held at the world-class Colegio San Agustin tennis courts in Bulacan.
 
The no.1 seeded Balce beat no.2 seed Vince Tugade of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, 6-2, 6-4, in the Group 1 tournament. The said tournament is one of the biggest tournaments- if not the biggest- in the Philippines.
 
After the awarding, Balce traveled all the way to Colegio San Agustin in Makati, arriving just in time for his 1pm Inter School Tennis Association(ISTA) match against Gab Tiamson of De La Salle Zobel. Balce won that match as well, 8-6. AHS team captain Balce teamed up later with AJHS student Nio Tria in the 1st doubles and won, 8-5, to clinch the tie.
 
Last month, Balce also won the PHILTA CTW Juniors 2017 Tennis Championship held from Dec. 26-30, 2017, beating Venz Alforque of Cebu City, 4-3, 4-3. The tournament was held in the Bulacan Sports Complex.
 
Todate, Mik Balce’s world junior ranking is no. 779 according to the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the world governing body of tennis. In August 2017, he was ranked 846th.