JHUN Alcoseba posted three lopsided victories while Reisha Nillasca survived Celeste Cabotaje to lead 10 others into the main draw of the PPS-PEPP Brookside Open, which got going Wednesday at the Brookside Hills Tennis Club in Cainta.
Alcoseba routed Marco Ayala, 8-1, trounced Elijah Arevalo, 8-4, then overpowered Danny Olosin to clinch one of the eight seats in the tournament proper of the P300,000 event sponsored by Palawan Pawnsho-Palawan Express Pera Padala and hosted by BHTC president Allan del Castillo.
Hans Asistio eased out Sam Cruz, 8-3; Arvin Ruel crushed Christian Deyro, 8-1; Eurydice Gaspar scored a walkover win over Carl Catedral; Neil Co got past Stephen Pilares, 8-2; Radharani Reyes whipped Franklin Encarnacion, 8-2; and Gerry Manlangit outsteadied Kyle Joseph, 8-6, to join the 32-player men’s main draw of the event backed by PPS-PEPP, Slazenger, Rep. Jack Duavit, Mayor Johnielle Nieto, Victoria Construction, Mitsubishi Mirage, Rublou Mall, 9 One 9 Security Agency, chairman Buboy Sauro, BHTC president Allan del Castillo and Phoenix 5R Solid Waste Enterprises.
Nillasca, meanwhile, hung tough to foil Cabotaje, 8-6, and led Danielle Carranza, Grace Melchor and Moira Velicaria in the 16-player women’s main draw headed by sisters Clarice and Christine Patrimonio.
Carranza rolled past Cianna Villaflor, 8-2; while Melchor and Velicaria won via default.
The Brookside Open, backed by Asiatraders Corp., offers a total prize fund of P300,000, including P200,000 from BHTC and P100,000 from PPS-PEPP.
Johnny Arcilla, who has dominated the PPS-PEPP Open events the last three years, banners the stellar cast that includes the country’s other top players, headed by PJ Tierro, Leander Lazaro, Fritz Verdad, Ronard Joven, John Altiche, Rolando Ruel Jr. and Marc Reyes.
Competition in the ladies side is also expected to be fierce with Miles Vitaliano, Rachelle de Guzman, Charito Capadocia, Mikaela Vicencio, Nicole Paez, Khrizelle Sampaton, Chloe Saraza, Melanie Dizon, Jennylyn Magpayo, Nicole Eugenio out to foil the Patrimonio sisters’ bid.
For details, call PPS-PEPP Regional Age Group Tennis Event organizer and Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.
The event, backed by the new Unified tennis group, led by PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson Toby’s and B-Meg, also serves as the first of a two-week tennis festival at Brookside with the juniors and doubles set next week featuring the 10-unisex and the boys’ and girls’ 12-, 14-, 16- and 18-and-under competitions and 10-U, 14-U and 18-U doubles.