Johnny Arcilla added another PPS-PEPP Open crown to his growing trophy collection, beating Vicente Anasta with a hot start and a late charge in the second set, 6-4, 6-4, to nail the Pintaflores Festival title in San Carlos, Negros Occidental last Monday.
Arcilla broke Anasta right in the first game and kept the edge by trading serves, clinching the set in love fashion before a big crowd at the San Carlos Sports Center. The multi-titled Davis Cupper then surged ahead with a break in the seventh game in the second frame to complete the title romp worth P40,000 in the week-long event presented by Dunlop and backed by TJ’s Clear Art.
On the road to the finals, the top seeded Arcilla, who topped this event in 2016 to cap a sweep of the four Open titles on the annual PPS-PEPP calendar, trounced Athan Arejola, 6-0, 6-3, scored a 6-2, 2-1(ret.) win over Mari Altiche, crushed Rodolfo Barquin, 6-1, 6-2, and dominated the fourth-ranked Fritz Verdad, 6-2, 6-3, in the semifinals of the event held as part of the host city’s Pintaflores Festival celebrations and organized by Criston Carmona.
“Arcilla has time and again proved that discipline is key to victory, which our young players should emulate. By staying fit and in shape all year-long, he continues to dominate the Open tournaments,” said Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
Anasta, on the other hand, survived Bryan Saarenas, 3-6, 6-4, 10-6, held off Joseph Arcilla, 6-4, 6-2, rapped Leander Lazaro, 6-2, 6-4, and dethroned last year’s winner Bryan Otico, 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(8). He settled for P20,000.
But Anasta bounced back in doubles play, teaming up with Mark Alcoseba to turn back Saarenas and Alberto Villamor, 2-6, 7-5, 10-6, and nail the crown in the event sponsored by Mayor Gerardo Valmayor, Vice Mayor Renato Gustilo, Vice Gov. Eugenio Lacson and Julio Ledesma.
Meanwhile, Paul Allego and Lougil Estember from La Carlota topped the men’s doubles 40s division while the Justo Cerna-Roche Pilares tandem from Bacolod ruled the 50s category and Josephus Cerna and Remigio Sagansay, also from Bacolod, took the 60s crown. For details, call PPS-PEPP Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.
