Arcilla, Pague blast rivals, reach Escudero Cup semis

JOHNNY Arcilla and Jose Maria Pague trampled their respective rivals to stay on title collision course but Charles Kinaadman and Vicente Anasta likewise fashioned out convincing victories to reach the semifinals of the Escudero Cup National Tennis Open Championship in San Pablo City yesterday.

The top seeded Arcilla trounced Chat Conta, 6-4, 6-2, then smothered John Tomacruz, 6-2, 6-1, to set up a Final Four duel with No. 4 Anasta, who routed Jeson Blando, 6-1, 6-2, in the first round then posted a pair of 6-3, 6-0 romps over Hans Asistio and Lance Fernandez to get a crack at the finals of the Group A tournament marking return of the Don Arsenio Escudero Sr. Cup after a long absence on the PPS-PEPP calendar.

absence on the their accounts verified in these government-accredited locations, with the assistance of in-house representatives.

During the program, the company announced that it will be opening more outlets across the entire country, starting in the cities of Metro Manila and Cebu apart from owning a team in the MPBL—the OKBet Makati Kings.

This nationwide expansion aims not only to cater to more players, but to provide more opportunities to Filipino workers and help boost the contry’s economy.

The launching of the flagship outlet was part of the company’s Grand Launch billed as “Together, We Rise” where local artists, athletes, celebrities, and other public figures attended to celebrate the gaming firm’s several milestones and advocacies.

The No. 2 Pague, on the other hand, held off Marco Macalintal, 6-4, 6-2, then ripped Alexis Acabo, 6-2, 6-1, to seal a tough semis duel with No. 3 Kinaadman, who dispatched Jay Papa, 6-1, 6-4, ripped Bryan Saarenas, 6-2, 6-0, and thwarted John Mari Altiche, 6-4, 6-4, at the Aera Tennis aClub.

That sealed an interesting showdown for the final berths with Anasta and Kinaadman both going all out for reversals in the week-long event organized by Aera Tennis Club, headed by president Raul de Vera and held in partnership with PPS-PEPP, led by president/CEO Bobby Castro, and the Escudero family.

Pague and Anasta, meanwhile, got past Blando and Saxon Omandac. 6-3, 6-0, to likewise advance to the semis of the men’s doubles against Rollie Anasta and Noel Salupado, who upended Kinaadman and Fernandez, 7-6(1), 7-6(4), in the event backed by Rep. Loreto Amante, Rep. Edwin Olivarez, Rep. Sonny Lagon, Arman Santos, Converge, Mitsubishi Motors, Dunlop and Slazenger.

THE highly anticipated and much talked-about drama, The Whale starring Brendan Fraser, is screening now in the Philippines.

Academy Award-winning director, Darren Aronofsky ( Black Swan

By Patricia Taculao

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023

Nickie Wang, Editor; Patricia Taculao, Editorial Assistant