Tennis aces vie in PCA Open

MANILA, Philippines - The country’s leading netters, headed by Francis Casey Alcantara, Jeson Patrombon, Johnny Arcilla and PJ Tierro, will headline an elite cast vying in the 34th Philippine Columbian Association Open-Cebuana Lhuillier Wildcard Event which fires off Sept. 17 at the newly refurbished PCA courts.

Slots in the ITF Men’s Futures, which the country will host next month, will be up for grabs in the annual PCA Open.

Raul Diaz, who chairs the organizing committee, said the singles champion and runner-up and doubles winner will automatically clinch berths in the 32-man main draw of the strong Manila ITF Men’s Future Leg 2, also at the PCA courts, in October.

The two losing semifinalists and four losing quarterfinalists will also be automatically seeded into the ITF event’s qualifying leg.

“We are very excited since this will be the first time that the PCA will host an ITF event. Furthermore, we expect 46 world ranked players to come and compete in this prestigious event,” said Diaz.

“They have a chance to earn ATP points, plus a crack at the $15,000 total prize money,” he added.

The PCA Open-Cebuana Lhuillier Wildcard event will run Sept. 17-27 while the Manila ITF Men’s Future Leg 2 is held Oct. 12-18.

The Phl Tennis Association will host the first leg of the ITF Futures from Oct. 5-11 at the Valle Verde and Country Club in Pasig City.