Grizzled veteran Johnny Arcilla turned back young gun Jan Godfrey Seno, 3-6, 6-0, 6-1, to bag the Naga Open National Tennis Championship crown Wednesday in Naga, Cebu.
Arcilla changed tactics after yielding the opening set which Seno dominated with his power and baseline game, coming through with superb drop and lob shots and backspins that helped him complete the come-from-behind win.
It was the 10-time PCA Open champion’s third straight win coming off romps in the Brookside Open in Cainta and Zentro Open in Pampanga the last three weeks, and five overall, counting his victories in the Puerto Princesa Open last October and the Pintaflores Festival Open last month.
That further underscored the 42-year-old’s tremendous form and staying power as he succumbed to Seno’s baseline game.
Arcilla, who needed an extra set to repulse Charles Kinaadman in the semifinals, quickly recovered and imposed his will in the next, shutting out Seno with his vast repertoire of shots.
He then broke his rival in the first and fifth games of the deciding set to go 5-1 up before breaking him again in the seventh to wrap up the crown.
Unlike in Brookside and Zentro Open, however, Arcilla failed to complete a twinkill as Kinaadman and Eric Jed Olivarez carved out a thrilling 6-7 6-2, 10-7 victory over him and Vicente Anasta in the doubles finals.
Sharing the spotlight in the tournament held as part of the Dagitab Festival celebrations were Legends winners, including Boy Longakit and Jonathan Largo, who beat Aldrin Geluz and Rocky Paglalunan, 8-5, in 40s class; Roy Tabotabo and Marlon Mariscal, who trounced Geluz and Enrico Abadia, 8-2; Rollie Anasta, who held off Chat Conta, 8-5, for the men’s singles 35 title; Geluz, who edged Tabotabo, 8-7(3), in singles 45 finals.
Other doubles winners in the event, were Max Tallido and Biboy Narvasa (Classified C), Raffy Canares and Alvin Cinco (Classified C+), Manolet Cortes and Danny Sajonia (Classified B-), and Noel Salupado and Rollie Anasta (Classified B+).
