Johnny Arcilla (center) is awarded by The City of Naga mayor Vlademar Chiong (left) and Palawan Pawnshop area manager Almee Joie Salvador (right). (CDN PHOTO/JOHN CARLO VILLARUEL)
National team player Johnny Arcilla brought his full arsenal in the championship round and defeated Vicente Alberto Anasta, 6-4, 7-5, to pocket his third singles title in the Palawan Pawnshop – Palawan Express Pera Padala yesterday at the City of Naga Tennis Center.
Arcilla, who bagged the Tuna Festival and Pinta Flores crowns earlier this year, put on a spectacular show against the third-ranked Anasta in the first set and pulled away late in the second set to survive Anasta and win the crown.
Anasta had all sorts of chances to force a deciding set, when he pulled to within 5-6 but the Butuan City-native Arcilla managed to get back on his feet in the nick of time to take a 7-5 second set triumph.
It was the closest battle all-tournament long for Arcilla, who pulled off easy victories against Gabriel Riconala, 6-1, 6-2; Argil Canizares, 6-0, 6-3; Leander Lazaro, 6-1, 6-0; and Ronard Joven, 6-4, 6-3, in the earlier rounds.
After bagging the singles trophy, Arcilla wasn’t done yet.
The 35-year-old netter teamed up with Ronard Joven and the tandem defeated the top-seeded pair of Patrick John Tierro and Anasta, 7-5, 6-1, to capture the men’s doubles crown.