Merco-Selecta tennis opens

TOP-NOTCH tennis action is on as the fifth Merco-Selecta Davao Men's Tennis Challenge Invitational Tournament unfurls at the Ecoland Phase 1 Tennis Club courts at 8 a.m. today.

Mercantile Corporation (Merco) president Anton Ferrazzini urged Dabawenyos to watch the matches that will showcase the country's best tennis players.

"This is a free admission tournament. We call on tennis enthusiasts to join us and cheer for their favorites," Ferrazzini said, adding that at least five players from Davao City will try to pull off surprises in the veteransladen field led by current Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) men's No. 1-ranked Johnny Arcilla of Butuan City.

Arcilla is defending his men's singles and doubles titles this year.

Donning Davao City's colors are John Jeric Accion of the UAAP men's tennis champion team National University and Michael Mesa, along with three others.

Cash prizes await winners of the netfest with the singles champion taking home P30,000 while the runner-up will pocket P10,000. The semifinals losers will each get P10,000 and the quarterfinals losers will claim P5,000 apiece.

The round of 16 will receive P2,000 each while Round of 32 will each go home with P1,000.

In doubles, the first two pairs will win P20,000 and P10,000 while losing semifinalists will settle for P5,000 each and P2,500 apiece will go to the losing quarterfinalists.

The round of 16 pairs will be given P1,500 each.

Philta men's No. 5 Leander Lazaro of NU, UAAP men's tennis champion, No. 7 Ronard "Toto" Joven of Sultan Kudarat and No. 17 Roel Capangpangan are also entered in the netfest organized by avid tennis players Ferrazzini, Ariel Roco, Regie Caingles and Boy Diong who is tournament director.

Spectators will also have a treat with free Selecta ice cream to be given away during the four-day competition. MLSA