Zambo bet trips Narvaez, faces Arcilla in quarters

SUBIC – Unseeded Rocky Paglalunan, a promising baseliner from Zamboanga del Norte, defeated Manila Southwoods Tennis Academy bet Miguel Narvaez, 6-3, 6-4, yesterday to earn a quarterfinal berth in the second Coca-Cola National Open Tennis Championships at the Subic Bay International Tennis Center Indoor courts here.

The 23-year-old Paglalunan, who hails from Dapitan City, will face national player and third seed Johnny Arcilla, a 6-2, 6-3 winner over No. 15 Cebuano Ricardo Lagac Jr.

"Alam ko na magaling si Johnny pero di naman ako kinakabahan. Pipilitin kong maglaro nang mabuti," said Paglalunan, making his first quarterfinal appearance in a Group A event. He lost in the second round of the Mandaue Open two weeks ago and was eliminated in the first round of the 2002 PCA Open.

Former RP Davis Cupper and now tennis center administrator Virgilio "Beeyong" Sison also reached the quarters following a 6-3, 6-2 victory over Iligan City’s Joel Palao.

Sison will meet 2003 Philta Open runner-up and second seed Adelo Abadia, who survived Olongapo City pride and No. 16 Patrick John Tierro, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6 (5).

Top seed and defending champion Joseph Victorino and fellow national player Michael Mora III beat separate rivals to secure quarterfinals slots in this event sponsored by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority. chairman Felicito Payumo, Union Bank, PLDT, Dunlop-Slazenger, Wilson Sports and Penn, the official ball.