Arcilla battles Anasta
Defending champion Johnny Arcilla to face No. 2 Anasta in Cebuana Lhuillier men’s open finals
DEFENDING champion and top seed Johnny Arcilla will take on second seed Vicente Alberto “Onyok” Anasta for the 5th Cebuana Lhuillier men’s open title at the Baseline Recreation Center tennis courts today.
Anasta outlasted former no. 1 and last year’s finalist Patrick John Tierro in a grueling threesetter, 6-3, 6-7(4), 7-6 (9), while Arcilla had an easier time against Alexander Lazaro, 6-2, 6-1.
Displaying his grit, Anasta saved two match points in the third-set tie break for his twohour win.
“This is my first time to face Johnny in this tournament and our first final match for this year,” said Anasta, who lost in the past three quarterfinals before securing the final seat this year.
“Pareho naman kaming conditioned ni Johnny. We will just play our best and see who survives,” Anasta said.
In the Pro-am division, Sun. Star Cebu columnist John Pages and Juvan Divinagracia routed Mark Anthony Alcoseba and Fabie Borromeo, 8-1, to arrange a semis match against Jun Toledo and Andrey Villamor.
The other semifinalists are Rollyto Litang and Johnny Lasa, who beat Jaime Quiñones and Michael Ligarte, 8-2, and Johnny Bohol and Ken Salvo. Bohol and Salvo booted out Rommel Openiano and Joey Spisial, 8-6.
Meanwhile, Tierro will still have a chance to gun for a title as he and Arcilla made the semifinals of the doubles competition. The two beat Kennex Abadia and Israel Abarquez, 6-1, 6-2, and will meet Leander Lazaro and Al Michael Madrio, who booted out the third seeded Alexander Lazaro and Rolando Ruel, 6-1, 6-2.
Anasta and Ronard Joven also made the final four the easy way after Juvan Divinagracia and Kyle Parpan defaulted their match. Parpan decided to drop out of the competition as he has to leave for the Junior Davis Cup match in Austrlia.
“Napaaga ang flight niya papuntang Australia for the Junior Davis Cup kaya nagpa- default na lang siya. At kailangan pa niyang ihanda ang mga gamit niya,” match official Godfrey Callao said.
Anasta and Joven will face Roel Capangpangan and Kim Saraza, who booted fourth- seeded Mark Alcoseba and Ken Salvo, 7-5, 3-6, 10-6.