Tierro, Anasta trip rivals, set title clash

MANILA, Philippines - Patrick John Tierro and Vicente Elbert Anasta turned back their fancied semifinal opponents to arrange a showdown for the men’s Open singles crown in the second Olivarez-Philta Open Tennis Championships presented by Palawan Pawnshop Express Pera Padala at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat yesterday.

The fourth-seeded Tierro dished out a superb all-around game to scuttle Fil-Italian Marc Reyes, 7-5, 6-3, while the No. 4 Anasta shot down Francis Casey Alcantara, 7-6(4), 6-4, in the other semis duel in the event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop Express Pera Padala and Stronghold Insurance with Dunlop as official ball.

Tierro, who survived Alexander Lazaro, 6-4, 7-5, in Friday’s quarters, held his ground in a tight first round duel then broke Reyes twice in the next to sustain his run of straight-set victories.

Anasta matched that streak as he outlasted Alcantara in a thriller of an opener then broke the former Australian Open Juniors doubles champion once in the second and held serve the rest of the way to nail the win.

It was a sorry setback for Reyes, a runner-up in the PCA Open in 2010, who mastered second seed Johnny Arcilla in the quarters, 6-4, 6-4, late Friday but could not get his game going against Tierro’s solid game and experience.

Tierro, the 25-year-old La Salle student, and Anasta dispute the crown at 1 p.m. today after the ladies Open singles final at 10 a.m. and the other championship matches in the juniors division of the ranking tournament sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association.

It was also a heartbreaking loss for the 20-year-old Alcantara, who emerged the top contender for the crown after outsteadying top seed Jeson Patrombon, 7-5, 3-6, 7-6(2), in the quarters Friday to arrange a Final Four showdown with Anasta, who clobbered Joseph Victorino, 6-1, 6-1.

Meanwhile, top ranked Clarice Patrimonio and No. 2 Marinel Rudas set up a dream title duel in the ladies Open singles as they disposed of their respective rivals in similar fashion.

Patrimonio dropped just two games to oust No. 3 Aileen Rogan, 6-0, 6-2, while Rudas practically did just the same in bundling out No. 4 Alyssa Labay, 6-1, 6-2.

In men’s doubles, Tierro remained on course for a double-victory as he teamed up with Arcilla to defeat Anasta and Ronard Joven, 7-6(3), 6-2, and reach the finals against Alcantara and Pablo Olivarez, who stunned top seed Patrombon and Reyes, 7-6(3), 6-2.

Patrimonio and Rudas also sealed a showdown in the ladies doubles with the former teaming up with Rogan to oust Marie Nagret and Junnalyn Polito, 6-2, 6-3, and the latter trouncing Christine Patrimonio and Jesica Agra, 6-1, 6-4, in the other semis duel.