Arcilla seeks Olivarez Cup Open sweep

MANILA, Philippines - Johnny Arcilla sets out for a sweep of one of the country’s major tennis crowns as he heads the elite field vying in the fourth Olivarez Cup Open Tennis Championship presented by Palawan Pawnshop beginning tomorrow at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat, Parañaque.

Arcilla mastered doubles partner Vicente Anasta, 6-1, 7-5, 6-4, to clinch the men’s singles plum in the third Olivarez Cup last March with the many-time PCA (Philippine Columbian Association) Open champion upbeat of his chance to score a repeat in the upcoming event held in honor of Philta president and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

He topbills the 64-man main draw with Anasta ranked as the No. 2 seed and Patrick John Tierro, Marc Reyes, Jason Patrombon, Rolando Ruel Jr., Ronard Joven, Leander Lazaro, Mark Anthony Alcoseba and Alexander Lazaro taking the next eight spots in that order.

The top 10 ranked players, however, will only get to see action Monday in the second round after drawing opening round byes with Arcilla taking on the winner between John Altiche and a qualifier and Anasta battling the winner between Alberto Villamor and a wild card entry.

At presstime, a total of 110 players are disputing the eight wild card berths in the event put up by Palawan Pawnshop headed by COO Bobby Castro in the company’s continuing effort to help develop the sport and produce future stars.

The Olivarez Open also caps a two-week high-powered tennis action after the juniors tournament last week with Katrina Orteza, AJ Cano, Eric Jed Olivarez, Maia Balce, Monica Cruz, Cenon Gonzales Jr., Marcus del Rosario, Mikaela Vicencio and Diego Dayrit ruling their respective divisions.

Tierro will play the winner of the Jacob Lagman-Andrew Cano matchup, Reyes will face the victor of the Arc Dolorito-Ralph Barte duel, Patrombon battles the winner of the Franklin Encarnacion vs qualifier match, and Ruel faces the winner of the Fritz Verdad-qualifier duel.

Despite the absence of defending champion Marian Capadocia, who has begged off to compete in the Belgium Features tournament, the women’s singles field remains as talent-laden as ever with Clarice Patrimonio installed as the No. 1 seed.

The second ranked player is Edilyn Balanga followed by third ranked Aileen Rogan, No. 4 Alyssa Labay, fifth seed Hannah Grace Espinosa and No. 6 Maika Tanpoco with seventh seed Macy Gonzales, No. 8 Jzash Canja also expected to contend for the crown.