PRUSSIAN ARCENO: THE RISING STAR A true dart champion in his own right, PRUSSIAN ARCENO has already earned the respect and admiration of his peers. He is the latest sensation, a rising star, feared by many, and now ready to rumble with the best players, not only in Asia, but around the world. With the level of his skills and passion for the sport of darts, Arceno is expected to shine and collect more championships anytime soon. Only recently, he won the crown of the men’s singles of the 2014 Malacca Open in Malaysia and finished runner-up in the “soft tip” Asia Open 2014 in Macau. Unknown to many, Arceno’s childhood account is heartwarming. It really touched my heart and almost cried after reading his story. He was born to a poor family in Tondo, Manila. He is the eldest of four children—three boys and a girl. To make matters worse, his parents separated when he and his siblings were all small. “Mahirap kapag broken family, kailangan tumindig ka kaagad sa sarili mong paa,” said Arceno who went to school during daytime while tending to their small store in Tutuban to help his mother support their family. “Nagtitinda po ako ng mga bra at panties sa umaga,” said Arceno who at a young age also sold pocket books at night along Carriedo St. in Quiapo to augment his measly income from vending underwears. Through hard work, love and faith, Arceno was able to send his siblings to school until they completed their college education. “Lahat sila ay may mga trabaho na ngayon, para sa akin ay malaking accomplishment na ang nagawa ko, dahil ‘yon lang ang maireregalo ko sa mother ko at sa mga kapatid ko,” said Arceno. Arceno also worked as a wine sommelier or a wine specialist for a certain period of time before leaving the country to work abroad in 2010, this time to support his own family. The boy who had struggled and endured difficult days during his youth is now happily married and blessed with a beautiful daughter. He now works as a collector in a local market in Tondo. Arceno started to play darts in 2007 in Manila but his skills in darts was honed while working abroad. He also learned how to stay calm and thrive under pressure and perform best when the stakes are higher. “Doon po ako nahasa nang husto at tumibay ang dibdib ko sa paglalaro ng darts dahil bawat laro ay malaki ang pustahan,” revealed the right-handed Arceno. Arceno returned to the country for good in 2012 and competed in the Philippine Masters Cup in Baguio City where he wound up third in the men’s singles event. It was the start of a colorful darting career for Arceno who was then classified as a rated player by the Dart Council of the Philippines for his impressive performance in the national event. He pocketed P70,000 when he again finished third in the 2012 Resorts World dart tournament. The following year, Arceno’s step father suddenly passed away and his family needed funds for funeral services. He didn’t know where to get the money, “Kaya nagdasal na lang ako,” he said. His prayers were answered immediately when he topped the 2013 Resorts World dart tournament and brought home the first prize of P150,000. He was also the champion in the Pinagbenga Darts Open in the same year. He won the crown of the World 2013 Stage 2 Bulls Master in Hong Kong. The year 2013 was so far his most productive year as he again topped Selangor Klang Open in Malaysia before the end of the year. Arceno, who uses the 16-gram Dynasty brand tungsten darts from Japan, is very much impressed with former national champion Ricky Mijares for his deep concentration during the game, and has high regard for Andy “The Superman” Villanueva for his focus and determination. Among the international players, Arceno admires the bearded Australian champion Simon Whitlock. When at the throw line, Arceno doesn’t care whether his opponent is a newcomer or a top rated player. “Ang iniisip ko lang ay kung paano ako manalo,” he said. He also reminds his fellow darters, especially those who are now making it big in the sport, to keep their feet on the ground and remain humble. “Iwasan at alisin ang panggugulang or dirty tactics. You will never grow with that kind of bad attitude,” said the 29-year-old champion who keeps working on his skills at least three hours a day.
Posted on: Sat, 30 Aug 2014 04:40:00 +0000
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