Anasta upsets Arcilla, wins Lagman Masters Cup crown

SECOND-SEED Elbert Anasta shocked the country’s number one tennis player Johnny Arcilla to win this year’s title of the Jacob Lagman Masters Cup at the Cebu Country Club.

Anasta snapped his losing streak against Arcilla from Butuan City by scoring a 7-6 (7-2), 6-4, victory in the action-packed championship game.

Arcilla, who was the heavily favored player in the competition, was not in his best form as he committed a series of unforced errors that cost him the game.

Arcilla still has a chance of redeeming himself as he and the top 16 players of the country will compete in tomorrow’s Philippine Tennis Association (Philta)-sanctioned tournament at the La Consolacion tennis courts in Las Piñas.

Meanwhile, Ronard Joven defeated host Jacob Lagman in a match between a veteran and a young junior Davis cupper to bag third place honors.  In the doubles event, Lagman and Arcilla teamed up to beat the tandem of Anasta and Ruel Capangpangan, 10-4.

Jacob’s father, Philta regional vice president Jess Lagman, announced that there will be an upcoming  major tournament sanctioned by the Philta dubbed the Jacob Lagman Master Cup Tour this summer. /CORRESPONDENT DALE G. ROSAL