Arcilla, Iglupas cop Tunafest Open crowns

MANILA, Philippines - Johnny Arcilla got back at Casey Alcantara to claim the men’s crown while Khim Iglupas kept her fine form and pocketed her second straight women’s plum in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Tuna Festival Open at the Gen. Santos Tennis Court in Gen. Santos City yesterday.

The second seeded Arcilla recalled his fierce form and dominated Alcantara, scoring an emphatic 6-3, 6-2 victory and avenging his semifinal round setback to the Cagayan de Oro bet in the recent Olivarez Cup.

But the top seeded Iglupas continued to dominate the distaff side, although she needed an extra set this time to turn back No. 2 Edilyn Balanga, 6-4, 3-6, 6-1, and score a follow-up to her straight set romp over Marian Capadocia in the Olivarez Cup.

“It was a big confidence-boost for Arcilla after bowing to Alcantara the last time they faced. But it only showed the level playing field in men’s play with no particular player dominating,” said Philippine Tennis Association president and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

Arcilla, a many-time PCA Open champion, actually completed his title romp in the event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop through COO Bobby Castro and backed by Technifibre as official ball without dropping a set, threatened only by Vicente Anasta, whom he repulsed, 6-2, 7-5, in the semis.

But he started out strong against Alcantara in the finals and sustained his charge in the second set with a dominant all-around performance, never giving his 23-year-old rival a chance to mount a comeback.

Iglupas, on the other hand, broke Balanga once in the opening set, lost her rhythm in the second but recovered her bearing in the decider where she outplayed her rival with a solid baseline game.

Arcilla and Iglupas capped their big week by teaming up to capture the mixed doubles plum, trouncing PJ Tierro and Christine Patrimonio, 6-4, 6-1.