Arcilla targets sweep of Lanao tennis crowns

JOHNNY ARCILLA started chasing a second straight crown in the Lanao del Sur National Open which got going Sunday at the Mindanao State University courts in Marawi City.

A rcilla fashioned out a 6-3, 6-1 victory over Eric Jed Olivarez in the Lanao del Norte Open finals to herald his return to the top Open ladder after getting axed in the semifinals of the Malita Open in Davao Occidental last month that halted his dominant run in the country’s premier championships.

B ut while he’s confident of his chances for a sweep of the Lanao swing of the circuit under the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala, the many-time Philippine Columbian Association Open champion and veteran Davis Cupper remains cautious of his fellow seasoned campaigners and a pack of young rivals ready to pounce on every opportunity.

A t stake in the Group A tournament—which also features Nilo Ledama, Eric Tangub, Jeleardo Amazona, Noel Salupado, John David Velez and John Alejandre— is the top P80,000 purse out of the total of P450,000 prize fund put up by Vice Governor Mohammad Khalid Raki-In Adiong, leader of the host province’s youth development program particularly tennis.

He also spearheaded the rehabilitation of the province of Lanao del Sur and the City Marawi after the five-month conflict in 2017 with Marawi now ready and capable of hosting top sports events at the newly-built Sarimanok Sports Stadium and Convention Center.

A side from Arcilla and Olivarez, others vying in the week-long event, part of the country’s longest talentsearch put up by Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro and held as part of Lanao del Sur’s 64th founding anniversary celebrations, are Jude Ceniza, John Sonsona, Aslan Carbonilla, Evan Bacalso, Nicolas Gutierrez, Francisco Santos, Ibarra Ortega and Dave Mosqueda.