Arcilla, Tierro last Pinoys left in Olivarez netfest

MANILA, Philippines – Wild card entries Johnny Arcilla and Patrick John Tierro came through with hard-earned victories to remain the last Filipinos standing in Wednesday's $15,000 Olivarez-Cup-Philippine International Men's Tennis Championship at the Rizal Tennis Center.

Arcilla rallied from a first set defeat by beating Thai Chayanon Kaewsuto in the second straight set tiebreak and watching the latter fall to cramps in the third and deciding set to escape with a 4-6, 7-6 (4), 4-1 (retired) win.

Tierro, for his part, had to fend off a spirited opening set challenge put up by another local bet qualifier Calvin Charles Canlas before hacking out a 7-5, 6-2 triumph to join Arcilla in the second half.

The pair of victories arranged Arcilla round-of-16 showdown with fifth seed Andrew Whittington of Australia, who slammed Vietnamese qualifier Nguyen Hoang Thien, 6-1, 6-4, while Tierra tangles with giant-slayer Hermida Sanjurjo of Spain, who eked out a shock 7-6 (5), 6-4 win over No. 7 Ivo Minar of the Czech Republic.

Arcilla will need more than his unbelievable resolve and perseverance to beat Whittington, who beat Filipino Jeson Patrombon in the finals to cop an international juniors tournament right on this same venue three years ago.

"It will be tough but we will try to get a win again and make the country proud," said the 37-year-old Arcilla, who owns the distinction as the most titled player in the annual PCA Open with seven and awarded by the International Tennis Federation as one of the players with most matches played in Davis Cup, in Filipino.

But the rest of the Phl contingent couldn't answer the call and fell like dominoes against the strong foreign charge.

The last to fall was Asian Youth Games veteran Jurence Mendoza, who blew his chances to win the first set and suffered a heartbreaking 7-6(5), 6-4 setback at the hands of No. 6 Ivo Kleck of Slovakia.

The rest – Jeson Patrombon, Elbert Anasta and Fil-Italian Marc Reyes – all fell by the wayside.

Patrombon was shown the door by Chinese Taipei's Yu Cheng Yu, 6-4, 7-6 (6); Anasta couldn't cash in on his chances and succumbed to Thailand's Punn Bodhidatta, 7-6(7), 6-4; and Reyes led, 4-1, in the first set before fading away and falling, 6-4, 6-1 to No. 2 Chen Ti of Chinese Taipei.

The Doubles also gives the host country hopes of coming through with a strong performance as five Filipinos were entered there including Fil-Am Davis Cupper Ruben Gonzales, who has partnered with former Southeast Asian Games gold medallist Sonchat Ratiwatana of Thailand to emerge as the top seed.

Also entered are Arcilla and Kyle Joshua Dandan and Anasta and junior standout Eric Olivarez, Jr.

Dunlop Balls will be used in the tourney, which was revived by Philta president Edwin Olivarez after an 18-year hiatus and whose matches will be shown on ABS-CBN Sports Channel 23.