Arcilla aims for fifth PCA Open crown

MANILA, Philippines - A veteran campaigner who reigned the last four years, a promising Italy-based Filipino who fell short of his title bid last year and a pair of celebrity sisters out to prove their worth banner the 29th Philippine Columbian Open Tennis Championships which unfolds Dec. 4 at the PCA Plaza Dilao courts in Paco, Manila.

Johnny Arcilla, a veteran Davis Cupper and national team mainstay, goes for his fifth straight championship, making him the marked man in the annual event widely regarded as the country’s premier tennis championship featuring the cream of the crop.

“We’re expecting another exciting tournament this year,” said PCA president Dodie Caniza in yesterday’s event launch at the PCA conference hall.

The tournament, presented by Cebuana Lhuillier, will actually start Nov. 6 with the inaugural staging of the executive team tennis tournament and will run up to the second week of December.

That ensures a five-week long showcase of tennis action in the P500,000 event presented by Cebuana Lhuillier with the upcoming stars from the juniors ranks in both the boys’ and girls sides taking center stage from Nov. 12-21.

The team competitions in the men’s and ladies divisions will start Nov. 27 and 29, respectively, with the centerpiece event, the men’s and ladies singles, slated Dec. 4-12.

“We’ve been supporting not just tennis but sports in general and we’re hoping to continue to support this big event,” said Cebuana Lhuillier owner Jean Henri Lhuillier, who was accompanied by Danny Francisco.

The press conference was also attended by PCA Open chair Rolando Kraut, co-chair Al Gonzales, tournament director Chito Estanislao and RP tennis chief Julito Villanueva and son Randy Villanueva, who will see action in the singles event.

Fil-Italian Mark Reyes, who has been training in the country since June, is back, hoping to accomplish what he had failed to do last year when he lost to Arcilla in straight sets in last year’s finals.

“I’ve been training really hard for this tournament. I hope I could win it this time,” said Reyes.

The meet is supported by The Philippine STAR, San Miguel Corp., Coca-Cola, Le Soleil de Boracay Hotel, Phiten, Just Jewels, PVL Restaurant, Accel, Whirlpool, Babolat, Wilson Sports, Tennis Athletes Unlimited and Carlo Rossi.

Christine and Clarice Patrimonio, daughters of former PBA superstar Alvin, are also in the fold, vying not only in the singles event but also in the doubles category.

“We have high hopes in the singles event,” said Christine, who lost to Thailand-based Czarina Mae Arevalo in last year’s women’s finals.

“We’re also hoping to do good in the doubles although this is our first time to play together,” she added.