JOHNNY Arcilla seeks another diadem as the Gov. Edwin Jubahib Cup National Tennis Championships unfolds today, Thursday, at the DavNor Tourism and Sports Complex in Davao del Norte.
The seasoned campaigner, named the top seed in the absence of Jeson Patrombon, is brimming with confidence as he sets out for his 3 p.m. duel with Earl Casal but wary of the challenge posed by a slew of rivals out to make an impact in the week-long championship put up by Gov. Jubahib as part of his continuing effort to boost the province’s sports program.
Arcilla clinched the first Open crown staked this year in the Fr. Suarez Cup last May but yielded the Mati Open title to Patrombon in Davao Oriental last June. The latter, however, is skipping this week’s event to resume training with the Philippine Army.
But the depth of the Jubahib Cup field remains as talent-laden as ever with Vicente Anasta leading the charge in the lower bracket of the 32-player draw that also features third seed Eric Olivarez, No. 4 Charles Kinaadman, Fritz Verdad, Norman Enriquez, Noel Damian Jr. and John Mari Altiche.
Others out to contend for the crown and the top P40,000 men’s singles purse in the event presented by Dunlop and sponsored by Private Island Hills and Palawan Pawnshop-PEPP, are Bruce Hurtado, Vince Serna, Jason Battad, Ronard Joven, Romeo Largo, Geoffrey Bautista, Jarell Edangga, Jaffary Cariga and Jose Maria Pague.
