Arcilla trips Joven, bags Pintaflores net crown

Johnny Arcilla took control early and overpowered Ronard Joven, 6-4, 6-2, to nail the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Pintaflores Festival Open Tennis Championship crown at San Carlos City Tennis Club in Negros Occidental over the weekend.

Arcilla broke Joven right in the opening game before the eight-time PCA Open winner, who eased out Fritz Verdad in the semifinals, coasted to the title of the tournament held in conjunction with the city’s Pintaflores Festival.

Joven, who survived Leander Lazaro in three sets to reach the final, held serve in his first two turns in the second game but Arcilla wore him down and broke again in the fifth and seventh games.

Arcilla took the champion’s purse of P40,000 while Joven settled for P20,000.

“Arcilla continues to be an inspiration to our young players with his talent and discipline, staying in shape through all these years,” said Palawan Pawnshop president-CEO Bobby Castro.

Arcilla made it a twin kill as he and Joven ruled the doubles event with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Vicente Anasta and Arvin Ruel. The Arcilla-Joven pair held off Roel Capangpangan and Kim Saraza in the semifinals, 6-1, 7-5, while Anasta and Ruel toppled the Leander Lazaro-Verdad tandem, 6-4, 6-2.

Meanwhile, action in the PPS-PEPP age-group tennis tournaments shifts to Capiz on Nov. 5 to 8 at Dumalag Tennis Club. Registration is ongoing. For inquiries, call Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.