Arcilla, Anasta banner Pintaflores Festival Open

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed Johnny Arcilla and No. 2 Vicente Anasta brace for a tough challenge against a slew of rising young players as they headline the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Pintaflores Festival Open Tennis Championship firing off today at the San Carlos City Tennis Club in Negros Occidental.

Arcilla, the many-time PCA Open champion, and Anasta, also a former Davis Cupper, drew opening day byes but are expected to have their hands full in the second round with the former taking on the winner in the Reun Huibionada-Japeth Bartolome duel at 10 a.m. today and the latter clashing with the victor in the Eduardo Rodriguez Jr.-Michael Madrio face-off at 1 p.m.

Third seed Ronard Joven also took a bye and will play the winner of the Prince Clelo-Rodolfo Barquin clash at 9 a.m. today.

Other first round pairings pit No. 4 Fritz Verdad against Leomar Domingo, No. 5 Arvin Ruel vs Dale Estonilo, sixth ranked Roel Capangpangan versus Rod Singson, No. 7 Deo Talatayod against Reynan Mahusay and No. 8 Arc Dolorito versus Mark Gayo.

The weeklong event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and hosted by Mayor Gerardo Valmayor Jr. with Criston Carmona as organizer caps the city’s Pintaflores Festival celebrations kicked off by the age-group tournament last week.

“We are honored to be part of the Pintaflores Festival celebrations, bringing some of the country’s top players and future stars in our effort to help boost the sport in the Visayas region,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.

The Open winner will receive P40,000 while the second and third placers will get P20,000 and P10,000, respectively.

Also on tap in the event, sanctioned by Philta headed by president and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, is the men’s doubles with 12 pairs vying for top honors, including Arcilla and Joven as the No. 1 seed and Anasta and Ruel Arvin as the second ranked tandem.

For details, call Bobby Mangunay, PPS-PEPP organizer and sports program development director at 0915-4046464.

Meanwhile, Kiana de Asis logged another two-title romp, copping the girls’ 14- and 16-under crowns while Karl Baran salvaged a victory in the boys’ 16-and-under class in the Pintaflores Festival age-group tournament presented by Technifibre last Monday.

Other winners were Alexa Milliam (10-unisex), Micah Medina (girls’ 12-U), Bliss Bayking (girls’ 18-U), Pete Rodriguez (boys’ 12-U), Reynan Mahusay (boys’ 14-U) and RJ Singson (boys’ 18-U).