Johnny Arcilla gets the No. 1 seeding in the absence of top player Jeson Patrombon as he seeks another Open diadem as the Gov. Edwin Jubahib Cup National Tennis Championships unfolds today at the DavNor Tourism and Sports Complex in Davao del Norte.

The seasoned campaigner is brimming with confidence as he sets out for his 3 p.m. duel with Earl Casal but wary of the challenge ahead posed by a slew of rivals out to make an impact in the week-long championship.

Arcilla clinched the first Open crown staked this year in the Fr. Suarez Cup last May but yielded the Mati Open title to Patrombon in Davao Oriental last June.

Patrombon, however, is skipping this week's event to resume his training in the Philippine Army.

But the depth of the Jubahib Cup field remains as talent-laden as ever with Vicente Anasta leading the charge in the lower bracket of the 32-player draw that also features third seed Eric Olivarez, No. 4 Charles Kinaadman, Fritz Verdad, Norman Enriquez, Noel Damian Jr. and John Mari Altiche.

Others out to fuel their respective drive for the crown and the top P40,000 men's singles purse in the event are Bruce Hurtado, Vince Serna, Jason Battad, Ronard Joven, Romeo Largo, Geoffrey Bautista, Jarell Edangga, Jaffary Cariga and Jose Maria Pague.

This week's Open comes on the heels of Davao del Norte's successful staging of the PPS juniors tournament last June with a number of sports activities lined up for the year under Gov. Jubahib's sports development program.