Top Filipino netters banner PCA Open

MANILA, Philippines - The 29th PCA Open, long considered as the country’s premier tennis tournament, will be held Nov. 6-Dec. 12 with the cream of the country’s crop, headed by three-time champion Johnny Arcilla and defending ladies titlist Czarina Mae Arevalo, expected to vie for top honors in various divisions at the PCA courts in Plaza Dilao, Manila.

A slew of rising stars is also tipped to join the event, which features the centerpiece men’s and ladies singles and doubles, as well as the men’s and ladies interclub events, the boys’ and girls’ inter-college category and the junior division.

Cebuana Lhuillier will be the event’s presentor for the third straight year with Dunlop as the official ball.

To spice up this year’s edition of the annual event, organizers will introduce the executive amateur team tennis event, open to all recreational players with no ranking or have not played professionally.

The tournament will also use the age classification format which will incorporate the individual age classified events and the team competitions.

To further give the event a mainstream appeal, the PCA Open will be aired on NBN 4 in three segments. The opening ceremonies, juniors, and the amateur team competitions will be aired on Dec. 5 starting at 2 p.m.

Matches in the main team tennis competitions as well as the early rounds of the men’s and ladies singles and doubles will be shown on Dec. 19 while the men’s and ladies singles finals will be telecast on Dec. 26.

Backing the event, sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta), are Dunlop, Babolat and Wilson Sports.

For details, contact (02) 563-8501 loc. 132; (02)562-9280; (02) 707-5824 or (02) 707-5821.