Sports

Arcilla returns as 2nd Gamao Cup opens

Marianne L. Saberon-Abalayan

DAVIS Cup veteran Johnny Arcilla of Butuan City, No. 3 ranked men's player in the country, returns to action as the 2nd Mayor James Gamao Cup National Invitational Tennis Championship 2018 unfurls at the Panabo City twin courts today.

He was sidelined by an injury last year, thus, he failed to compete in the inaugural staging of the netfest in Panabo. No. 4 Patrick John Tierro, based on the Unified Tennis Philippines ranking as of April 30, 2018, then went home with the Gamao Cup singles title.

Arcilla, who finished runner-up to No. 1 Jeson Patrombon in the Makati Open Tuesday, won several titles in past stagings of Merco-Selecta-organized tournaments in Davao City.

But it will be his first time to compete in the Gamao Cup, also presented by Merco and Selecta.

"Mas gahi ron na line-up. Anybody's game gud ni.(This is a tougher line-up. This is anybody's game). Kung sino lang maganda ang gising," Arcilla said in a Facebook interview Monday after he outlasted Tierro, 3-6, 6-2, 7-6 in the semifinals.

He, however, said he will just enjoy the game. "No pressure lang."

The players were set to arrive as of yesterday presstime.

Aside from Arcilla, Patrombon and Tierro, also vying for honors in the P150,000-rich tournament are No. 2 player Francis Casey Alcantara, No. 5 Vicente Elberto Anasta, No. 7 John Bryan Otico, No. 8 Eric Olivarez, Jr., No. 9 Fritz Chris Verdad, No. 11 Leander Lazaro, No. 13 Dheo Talatayod, No. 15 Arthur Craig Pantino and No. 17 Ronard Joven along with John Mari Altiche, Kim Ivor Saraza, John Jeric Accion, Rolly John Saga and Jan Godfrey Seno.

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