Giant slays giant killer; Capadocia also shines

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed Johnny Arcilla launched an assault that proved too much to handle for newcomer Jurence Mendoza as the veteran clinched the men’s singles title in the 30th Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open Tennis Championships with a convincing, 6-1, 6-0, 6-4, victory yesterday at the PCA indoor shell clay court.

Arcilla stamped his class right at the start, making sure the unheralded Mendoza – who ousted second seed Elbert Anasta early in the tournament and slayed top-ranked players on his way to the finals – would not end up slaying the biggest giant.

“I went up front immediately because it’s difficult fighting a young player,” said Arcilla. “My thigh got a big tight in the third set but I managed the pain because the least thing I didn’t want to do is prolong the game.”

The 31-year-old Arcilla took home the top prize of P100,000. Mendoza took home P50,000.

Second-ranked Marian Jade Capadocia overcame a terrible start and mustered a strong comeback in the second set to grab the title away from top pick Clarice Patrimonio, 2-6, 6-0, 6-3, in the ladies singles.

Down in the first set, the 16-year-old Capadocia displayed her resilient form behind a dizzying flurry of baseline winners that caught the 18-year-old Patrimonio off guard in the match that took two hours, 10 minutes. 

“I lacked warmup, that’s why I had to size her up first. I made her run all over the court becase she tires easily and becomes impatient during long rallies,” said Capadocia, fresh from a bronze-medal finish in the women’s team event of the 2011 Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia along with Patrimonio and Denise Dy.

“My game is a bit relaxed – no shrieks which take the wind off me,” added Capadocia, a graduating student of Arellano High School.

Capadocia bagged the top purse of P50,000, while Patrimonio settled for P25,000.

Patrimonio vented her ire in the ladies’ doubles competition with partner Tamitha Olivarez-Nguyen who defeated the tandem of Louise Lopez and Aileen Rogan, 6-1, 6-1. 

Patrick John Tierrro and Arcilla copped the men’s doubles title over Anasta and Ronard Joven, 6-4, 6-2.