MANILA – Johnny Arcilla will begin his title defense on Saturday, playing against qualifier John Jeremiah Tomacruz at 2 p.m. in the 39th Philippine Columbian Association Open Tennis Championships at the PCA indoor shell court in Plaza Dilao, Paco.
Tomacruz defeated Marius Laforteza, 8-5; John Benedict Aguilar, 8-6; Joshua Austria, 8-3; and Harvey Klien Gilbeuna, 8-7, in the qualifying round to earn a slot in the 64-man main draw.
The other qualifiers were Lawrence Quitara, Richard Bautista, Stephen Guia, Lance Jacob Fernandez, Marco Macalintal, Hilbert San Jose, and Jude Michael Andre Padao.
Quitara will face No. 2 seed and 2019 runner-up Jeson Patrombon at 3 p.m. while Bautista and No. 3 seed Jed Olivarez will square off at 12 noon.
Other matches will pit Guia against Noel Damian (10 a.m.), Fernandez against Heinz Asian Carbonilla (12 noon), Macalintal against Exequiel Jucutan (8 a.m.), San Jose against Joshua Kinaadman (1 p.m.), and Padao against Rodolfo Barquin (2 p.m.).
Arcilla, 42, won a record ninth singles title after beating Jurence Zosimo Mendoza, 6-3, 7-5, 6-3, in the 2019 finals.
Shelved for two years due to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, the tournament is returning with two foreign players – namely Muthu Aashitiya Senthilkumar of India and former world No. 167 Guillermo Olaso of Spain eyeing the title and cash prize worth PHP200,000.
Meanwhile, top seed Marian Capadocia is seeking to extend her reign in the women's division.
Capadocia, a two-time Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist, claimed her seventh crown after a 6-1, 6-0 victory over Jenaila Rose Prulla.
Prulla is seeded No. 2 followed by Althea Faye Ong, Mikaela Vicencio, Carlyn Blessy Guarde, Alyssa Mae Bornia, Alexa Joy Milliam, and Angeline Alcala.
The 39th PCA Open offers PHP100,000 to the women's singles champion while in the doubles category, the winners will get PHP70,000 (men's) and PHP35,000 (women's). (PNA)
