Jose Maria Pague gains the top seeding in the absence of injured Johnny Arcilla but focus will be on Alberto Lim and a slew of aces all primed for a duel of power and styles in the Gov. Franklin Bautista National Open Tennis Championships at the Malita courts in Davao Occidental.

The week-long, top-ranking event got under way on Sunday, Oct. 15 with Pague and the other seeded bets tipped to hurdle their respective first round matches although reversals are not ruled out given the depth of the field, including the youngsters out to prove their worth.