Local netters ready to defend home front

MANILA, Philippines - World ranked Jeson Patrombon, former Australian Open juniors doubles champion Casey Alcantara, veteran campaigners Johnny Arcilla and Patrick John Tierro and young ace Alberto Lim Jr. slug it out against their foreign counterparts in the PSC-Philta International Men’s Futures Open beginning today at the Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City.

Patrombon made it straight to the main draw while the four other Filipino bets were given wild cards spots in the $15,000 meet which also stakes ranking points.

Patrombon, 22, landed slot in the main draw following his 1204th world ranking while Alcantara, Tierro, Arcilla and Lim are all coming into the event in top form following victories in the run-up to the event organized by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Tennis Association, Pioneer Insurance, Babolat, Asian Tennis Federation and Philta president and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

“This is a good opportunity for our players to break into the pro circuit and earn world rankings,” said Olivarez. “I’m confident we can have a very good showing because we have a very promising bunch of players here.”

PSC chair Richie Garcia said he is expecting the hometown crowd to rally behind the players, “that’s why we are asking sports fans to support our players in this top-level tournament.”

Alcantara and Lim, and Arcilla and Tierro were also given doubles wildcard slots in the meet also supported by Palm Rock Hotel, Sweet Valley, TCU Aircon sales and services, Globe, Beginnings Baby Products, The Henry Hotel, ROCD Roofworks and IPTL (International Premier Tennis League).

The Filipino wildcards are coming from recent victories. Alcantara just won the Olivarez Open, Arcilla reigned in the Gen. Santos City Tuna Festival, while 16-year-old Lim crowned himself the youngest champion in the PCA (Philippine Columbian Association) Open.

Among those listed to join are Enrique Lopez-Perez of Spain (ranked 354), Harry Bourchier of Australia (509), Kento Takeuchi (513) and Arata Onozawa (591) of Japan, and Vinayak Kaza of India (655).

Patrombon reached his highest ranking at 869th three years ago and is now rebuilding his career with impressive stints in the Southeast Asian Games as well as ITF Futures in Sri Lanka and India.