ROXAS, ISABELA — John Mari Altiche claimed the men's singles Open title at the Mayor Doc Totep Calderon National Tennis Championships, held at the Lado Del Rio Resort court last Sunday. The top-seeded Altiche defeated John Jeric Accion with scores of 6-3, 6-3 in a decisive match that confirmed his top billing in the tournament.
According to Philippines News Agency, Altiche’s path to the title included victories over Aeyshaun Gomez, Jairo Flores, and Alexis Santos, showcasing his dominance in earlier rounds. Meanwhile, Accion faced a tough semi-final against second seed Alberto Villamor, overcoming him in a challenging three-set match with scores of 5-7(2), 7-6(5), 10-6 to reach the final.
Altiche was awarded PHP50,000 for his victory in the singles category, while Accion received PHP25,000 as the runner-up. Additionally, Altiche shared a PHP30,000 prize with Alberto Villamor in the doubles category, where they defeated Ivan Manila and Bryan Oliveros with scores of 4-6, 6-4, 10-3 in the final.
The tournament also featured competitions in the Legends division, with Mark Anthony Chy and Erwin Cruz taking the title in the 30-and-above category. Other notable winners included Mar Bajet and Reynante Galvante in the men's 40- and 50-and-above categories, Rolly Guañez and Wilfredo Verzosa in the men's 60-and-above category, Brasilia Uy and Ysabelle Uy in women’s doubles, and Brasilia Uy and Marcvin Marquez in mixed doubles, each pair earning PHP10,000.
The event, part of the Palawan Pawnshop National Tennis Championships and supported by the Cagayan Valley Tennis Federation, sets the stage for the upcoming Mayor Eric Olivarez Open, which is scheduled from June 6-16 at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat, Parañaque.