Reigning champs work double time

The road to a title repeat is getting tougher and harder each round.

This defending doubles champions Johnny Arcilla and Michael Mora III realized as the two survived a serious challenge from the unseeded pair of Randy de Guzman and Mark Grandea yesterday to barge into the third round of the 21st PCA Open at the PCA Indoor courts.

Arcilla and Mora, top seeds in this 10-day event presented by Dunlop and Accel, rallied from 2-5 down in the first set, overhauled a 2-5 deficit in the tiebreak before oulling through in the second for a 7-6 (5), 6-4 victory.

"Nagulat kami sa first set dahil ang lalakas pumalo," said Arcilla, the country’s current No. 1 men’s netter.

"Nanggigil lang siguro kami nung una kaya nung pinasok-pasok muna namin ‘yung bola, sila naman ‘yung bira nang bira kaya puro error ang nagyari sa kanila," he added.

Too eager was the power-serving Grandea, a 25-year-old med-school student, that he double-faulted in the eighth game of the opening set, enabling Arcilla and Mora to break serve.

From there, Arcilla and Mora were a different duo as the two calmly and patiently outplayed Grandea and de Guzman in four of the next five games to force a tiebreak.

Unleashing powerful service winners, Grandea and de Guzman zoomed to a 5-2 lead in the tiebreak but Arcilla and Mora struck back hard, taking the next five points and the set.

The second set was no different as Grandea and de Guzman zoomed to a 3-2 lead before falling apart again as Arcilla and Mora set up a third round duel versus Ian and Irwin de Guzman, who downed Peterson Lee and Eddie Manzano, 6-4, 6-4.

Second seeds Rolando Ruel Jr. and Jessie Lapore also had a hard time against the big-serving tandem of Dino Ferrari and Nino Salvador before prevailing, 7-6 (5), 6-2, in 51 minutes.

Koreans Song Heung Keun and Lim Pea Young, made their presence felt as the two made short work of Dennis Coteron and Ferdinand Daez, 6-1, 6-1, to arrange a round-of-16 meeting with No. 9 Roland Kraut and Michael Misa, 6-3, 6-2 winners over Eddie Gomez and Rico Gonzales.

Also booking seats in the next round were fourth pick Joseph Victorino and Alex Lazaro, who trounced Russel Arcilla and Dennis Sianson, 6-2, 6-3, to forge a third round match against Dennis and Duane Santos, 2-6, 7-5, 7-6 (9) winners over Jomar Arcilla and Chimiel Mantua.

In the men’s singles , second seed Adelo Abadia downed PJ Tierro, 6-4, 6-4, to advance against No. 13 Luisito Clores, who scored a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Eddie Gomez. Third seed Joseph Victorino defeated Chemuel Mantua, 6-1, 6-1, to set up a third-round meeting with No. 16 Pio Tolentino, who beat Karl Santamaria, 6-4, 6-1.

No. 8 Pop Sabandon downed Raffy Santiago, 6-3, 6-3, to advance against Nino Salvador, 6-3, 6-1 winner over Mario Sabas. Unseeded Kyle Dandan ousted Roderick Lazaro, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3, and meets Pius Ocampo, who ousted fourth seed Michael Mora III, 3-6, 6-4, 6-2.