Pinoy, Iranian netters split singles

Top Filipino bet Johnny Arcilla saved the day for the RP men's team with a vital 6-3, 6-4, 6-3 victory over Iranian Tavakoli Mohammadreza in yesterday's Davis Cup singles matches at the Philippine Columbian Association tennis courts in Plaza Dilao, Manila.

The 20-year-old Arcilla, who is playing his third Davis Cup tie, unleashed a solid baseline game to outclass Mohammadreza in one hour and 35 minutes for the win.

Arcilla's teammate, Adelo Abadia, lost to Iran's top netter Raziani Ramin, 6-7 (7-9), 6-7 (4-7), 2-6, to tie the match at one game apiece.

Abadia, also a member of the RP team that lost to the Indonesians in the Davis Cup first round tie early this year, 1-4, botched several opportunities to win the first two sets but succumbed to Davis Cup pressures in the end.

Though coach Martin Misa is not blaming anyone for Abadia's loss, he revealed that he might tap Rolando Ruel, Jr. in tomorrow's reversed singles depending on what happen in today's doubles match.

Ruel will team up with Michael Misa, a veteran Davis Cupper, at 1 p.m. today against the Iranian pair of Raziani Ramin and Taheirahaghi Seyed Akbar in what could decide the fate of RP and Iran, which lost to Malaysia in their own tie last month, 2-3.