CEBU, Philippines – In a rematch between two of the best players in the country, veteran Johnny Arcilla made sure he will finish the game this time even when playing hurt against the No.1 player in the land – Patrick John Tierro.
The 29-year-old pride of Butuan exacted revenge against his fierce competitor in a thrilling three-set finale to capture the title in the Cebuana Lhuillier Tennis Circuit Men's Open before a good size crowd at the Baseline Tennis Center yesterday.
Arcilla won, 3-6, 6-3, 6-3, to pocket the top prize of P40,000 and a handsome championship plate presented by sportsman/businessman Jean Henri Lhuillier.
In a game that lasted for almost two-and-a-half hours and fought for 21 deuces, the two players, who met for the fifth time in their careers in a championship showdown, were all business right from the very start in this event backed by Cebuana Lhuillier and sponsored by Pera Padala, Le Soleil de Boracay, P. Lhuillier Insurance Agency and Phiten.
Arcilla bucked all sorts of pains created by his old groin injury and a nasty spill he experienced while saving the ball in the second set. But with the crowd cheering him on, the veteran Davis Cupper used these as a rallying point.
“Meron talagang psychological effect yung dati kong injury,” said Arcilla. “Pero nag-stick ako sa game plan ko na kailangan bira lang ako ng bira at habulin yung mga tira niya.”
"But this is a good win. I can now take a much-deserved rest para mapa-theraphy ko rin yung injury ko,” he added.
It was the fourth time in five meetings Arcilla won over Tierro, mostly from the shell court. In their previous championship encounter last February at the Metro Pacific event, Arcilla retired due to a groin injury, allowing Tierro to capture the title.
After losing the first set, Arcilla bounced back strong in the next two sets by playing more aggressive and coming up with a different game plan against the more conditioned Tierro, who recently won a similar event in Angeles City.
Arcilla made a lot of good shots and saved several game winners to overshadow the countless double faults he had throughout the game.
In the third set, Tierro was leading 2-1, but Arcilla won four of the next five games for a 5-3 lead.
This happened after Arcilla put the pressure more on Tierro by coming through the net.
“Johnny is really a good player,” said Tierro. “I did the best I can but he made several great shots, shots that I felt have no chance of going in, pero nagawa pa rin niya.” – THE FREEMAN