Victorino, Arevalo cop PCA crown

Playing inspired tennis, teeners Joseph Victorino and Czarina Mae Arevalo pulled off contrasting victories yesterday to clinch their first ever PCA Open title before an appreciative Sunday crowd at the PCA Indoor Courts.

The first time is always the sweetest.

Two days after stunning top seed Johnny Arcilla, the 19-year-old Victorino banked on his unwavering patience and solid baseline play to outlast No. 2 Adelo Abadia, 4-6, 7-6(5), 1-6, 6-2, 6-3, in a game that lasted three hours and 45 minutes.

Arevalo, in contrast, had an easier time, smashing the last of the Koreans, Lee Min Hee, 6-1, 6-4, in a fantastic display of power that took her just 55 minutes in sealing her first PCA singles title and second crown this year.

"I’m so happy to win my first PCA Open singles title. It somehow erased the sad memory of last year when I lost (to Sonal Phadke of India) in the finals," said the 18-year-old Arevalo.

But it was the Victorina-Abadia duel that drew most of the excitement and drama in this event presented by Dunlop and Accel.

Victorino started out aggressive but Abadia came roaring back using the same drop shots that baffled fast-improving Nino Salvador in a 6-0, 6-1 semis win to take the opening set.

Adjusting to Abadia’s varied strokes, Victorino hang tough in the second set and in the tiebreak to level the count at one set apiece before losing concentration in the third when the four-time Davis Cupper attacked the net.

It was to be Abadia’s last show of force as Victorino drew inspiration from his mentor Manny Tecson, his teacher for six years now, who arrived early yesterday from Kobe, Japan just to cheer him, to seize the next sets and the match.

"It’s a happy experience for me because this is my first PCA title and I dedicate this win to my coach Manny Tecson, he’s really the man," said Victorino, who sealed the match with forehand passing shot to the delight of the crowd.

Arevalo made it a double kill after she teamed up with veteran Rina Caniza late Saturday in grounding Petrona Bantay and DJ Suarez, 6-2, 6-1, to cop the women’s doubles crown.

The top-seed pair of Arcilla and Michael Mora III, on the other hand, ruled the men’s doubles play with a 6-3, 6-2 triumph over the seasoned duo of Jun Jun Toledo and Virgilio Sison.