Johnny Arcilla and Jose Maria Pague try to pick up the pieces of a shattered campaign in last week’s Malita Open as they headline the stellar field anew in the Lanao del Norte National Open Tennis Championships which reels off Saturday at the MCC courts in Tubod.
The top two seeds fell in complete surprise in Davao Occidental’s premier tournament as unranked John Bryan Otico stunned the No. 1 Arcilla, 6-2, 6-4, in the semis then repelled Otico, 6-4, 6-3, to snatch the men’s singles Open crown worth P80,000.
But the 24-year-old stalwart of Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles won’t be seeing action this time, leaving Arcilla and Pague as the marked players again in the battle for the top P50,000 prize in the week-long championship sponsored by Gov. Imelda Quibranza-Dimaporo.
The event, which also features the men’s and women’s Open doubles, the Legends men’s doubles (30s, 40s, 50s and 60s) and the national age-group for boys and girls, is held in line with the host city’s 64th founding anniversary.
Also on tap are competitions in basketball, volleyball, football, cycling with tennis serving as the highlight of the 10-day festivities, according to Provincial Sports coordinator Nelson Lasola.
Joining Arcilla and Pague in the hunt are Vicente Anasta, Eric Olivarez, Joshua Kinaadman, Eric Tangub, Noel Salupado, Christian Lopez, Brent Cortes, John Alejandre, Mcleen Gomera, John Sonsona, Dice Gaspar, Heinz Carbonilla, Ibarra Ortega and Nash Agustines.
Meanwhile, the chase for nine titles in juniors play got underway Friday with Gomera, Kale Villamar, Thomas Gabuat and Brice Vincent bannering the 18-U cast and Judy Ann Padilla and Christine Gulagula tipped to dispute the girls’ tiara.
Gomera and Villamar also gained the top two seedings in the 16-U class with Benedict Lim and Pete Bandala tipped to crowd them along with a slew of others while Chloe Mercado, Kate Imalay, Sanchesna Francisco and Marlyn Mesiona brace for a spirited battle in their side.
Other titles to be disputed are the boys’ and girls’ 12-U and 14-U and the 10-unisex.
