Arcilla returns
Butuan netter to defend Merco-Selecta titles
COUNTRY's former No. 1-ranked men's netter Johnny Arcilla is returning to defend the singles and doubles titles when the MercoSelecta-backed Davao Men's Tennis Challenge Invitational Tournament unfurls on Oct. 27 to 30 at the Eco1 Tennis Club courts.
Secretariat-incharge Maricel Jumalon Plando, in a Facebook chat, said Arcilla will lead the 32-man field seeing action in the four-day netfest. The latter, who hails from Butuan City, won the men's singles and doubles crowns last year.
She said organizers earlier planned to just hold a Mindanao-wide competition this year considering that Manilabased rated players were not able to give their open schedule just yet.
"Pagkabalo nila na naa mi tournament, signify man sila Johnny ug interest na mujoin kaya nachange ang plan national nalang (When they heard that we have an event, Johnny and the others also signified their intent to join, thus, the plan has changed and it's going to be a national event)," Plando said, pertaining to Ronard "Tata" Joven of Sultan Kudarat and Roel Capangpangan.
Arcilla, a PCA multiple title holder and Davis Cupper, is currently ranked No.4 in the Sept. 30 Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) men's ranking while Joven and Capangpangan are ranked sixth and 17th, respectively.
The no-entry fee competition is open to male Philta-ranked players who have participated in any national open tournaments, must be among the top tennis players of their respective cities or regions and must have approval of tournament director Boy Diong to compete as it is an invitational event.
The men's singles champion will receive P30,000 while the runner-up will pocket P20,000. The semifinal losers will each take home P10,000 while the quarterfinals losers will settle for P5,000 each.
Losers in Round of 16 will each get P2,000 apiece while the Round of 32 losers will claim P1,000 each.
Doubles winners will also receive cash prizes.
Interested players may contact Plando at mobile numbers (092)9633228 and (0905) 974-1692 or Diong at mobile number (0977) 324-2252.