Tierro, Arcilla set title clash

CEBU, Philippines – Top seed Patrick John Tierro and the country’s second-ranked player Johnny Arcilla forged yet another blockbuster finale after disposing of their respective rivals in the semifinal round of the Cebuana Lhuillier Tennis Circuit at the Baseline Tennis Center here Friday.

A day after surviving his biggest test in the tournament in hurdling junior standout Francis Casey Alcantara in a marathon quarterfinals showdown, Tierro was all business against his Final Four counterpart Elbert Anasta.

Tierro brought down Anasta in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3, to clinch the first seat in the championship round of this event backed by Cebuana Lhuillier and sponsored by Pera Padala, Le Soleil de Boracay, P. Lhuillier Insurance Agency and Phiten.

An hour later, it was Arcilla’s turn to follow the suit. The veteran campaigner needed only 55 minutes in demolishing his rival, local bet Jaime Solon, 6-2, 6-3.

Teammates in the Philippine team in the squad’s successful campaign in the Southeast Asian Games in Manila four years ago, but rivals in local tennis circuit, Tierro and Arcilla will meet in the finals for the fifth time in their career.

According to Arcilla, he leads their head-to-head encounter, 3-1, with Tierro winning their last tournament in the Metro Pacific Open recently.

But Arcilla believes Tierro is in a zone and would most likely be the top favorite in their finals encounter today.

“I’m off form, about 50-60 percent I since I’m coning off from a groin injury,” said Arcilla, who was dislodged several years ago by the young Tierro as the top tennis player in the country.

“Tuloy tuloy yung tournament ni PJ. Champion pa siya sa Angeles City and non-stop ang training niya. Two weeks lang ang preparation ko rito kaya wala pa akong masyadong body movement.”

Tierro, who graduated as a sports psychology major in De La Salle University only this year, has high respect on Arcilla. He promised to give the local folks here a great, quality game.

“Ang daming beses na naming naglaban ni Johnny,” said Tierro. “We knew each other so well. Crucial factor here is how we adjust come finals.”

Tierro and Arcilla put aside their rivalry in the single’s division and formed up a deadly combo in the double’s event.

Their tandem made it to the semifinal round after beating the pair of Michael Mantua and Mario Sabas, 6-2, 6-3, to enter the semifinal round.

Also making it to the double’s semis is the duo of Alcantara and Ralph Kevin Barte, who outclassed the team of Mark Balce and Rollyto Litang, 6-4, 6-2.