The curtains have closed on the inaugural National Men’s Open, and one player who thoroughly enjoyed his stint in the tournament is Francis Casey “Niño” Alcantara.
A tennis veteran and a 2023 Asian Games bronze medalist, Alcantara was one of the crowd darlings of the tournament, and he thinks he knows why.
“I don’t know about that, I think they support the older guys more than usual,” he told Rebanse with a smile.
Turning serious, Alcantara pointed out that playing at the National Men’s Open was a blast as it was his first time playing on home soil in a while. He also lauded the facilities at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
“It is always fun to play at home, and it’s been a while since I played my last tournament here, so I’m very happy that they [Philippine Tennis Association] organized this tournament, and everyone I think is enjoying it with all the facilities that we have here,” he concluded.
Barely Playing Singles, Still Competitive
Unfortunately for the crowd darling, he couldn’t quite make it all the way to the final, falling short against eventual finalist Eric Olivarez Jr., who in turn lost the gold‑medal match to Alberto Lim Jr.
Even so, making it to the semis of a national tournament where the best of the best in the country competed is no small feat. That’s especially the case for a 34‑year‑old who mostly plays doubles now.
“Even though I barely play singles, I’m still happy to get the win,” Alcantara said when Rebanse interviewed him after his quarterfinal win against the younger John Kendrick Bona.
Niño Alcantara’s National Men’s Open journey ended soon after. But all things considered, it’s safe to say the veteran had a great, grand time.
