Pang duels Arevalo in PCA title clash

Fifth-seeded Michelle Pang proved her inclusion in the SEAG-bound national team was no fluke, ousting top seed and defending champion Denise Dy, 6-4, 6-3, to reach the finals of the P400,000 Philippine Columbian Association Open Tennis Championships yesterday at the Club’s indoor shell court.

Pang, unbeaten in four matches during the national team tryouts last week, played brilliantly against the US-born Dy, who put up a good fight throughout the 1 hour, 35-minute encounter despite nursing a hamstring injury in the left leg.

“I didn’t expect to win because she’s [Dy] a very good player,” said the 19-year-old Pang after reaching the finals for the first time since 2003. She lost to Bambi Zoleta in the semifinals last year.

“I’m happy to be in the finals and I’ll do my best to win,” added Pang, a sophomore management information system student at Ateneo de Manila University.

Dy, who was injured after slipping twice during her second-round match, tried to fight back in the second set but failed.

“I played well even though my leg was hurting. But it’s okay, this tournament is one of my preparations for next week’s satellite,” said Dy, who committed nine double faults and several unforced errors in the second set.

Playing Pang in the finals is three-time champion Czarina Mae Arevalo, who scored a 6-3, 6-4 victory over second seed Bambi Zoleta, last year’s runner-up.

“I felt the pressure because she’s younger and she was playing very well particularly in the second set,” said Arevalo, seeded third in the tournament offering P30,000 to the champion.

“I just need to play my game and be consistent,” stressed Arevalo.