Arcilla, Tierro seals PCA dream title duel

MANILA, Philippines - Veteran Johnny Arcilla wore down Rolando Ruel Jr. early and fashioned out an easy 6-2, 6-0 romp to seal a showdown with top seed Patrick John Tierro for the 33rd PCA Open crown at the PCA indoor courts in Paco, Manila yesterday.

“We were trading shots in the early going but I felt that he was tired coming off a series of three-setters, so I took advantage of it and kept on hitting,” said Arcilla, who moved within a win from nailing a ninth championship in the annual event.

But while Arcilla cruised to the finals, Tierro needed to bounce back from an opening set setback to frustrate last year’s runner-up Marc Reyes and eke out a 5-7, 6-4, 6-4 decision in the other semifinal match.

The 34-year-old Arcilla has been dishing off dominating performances from the start but remains wary of title-hungry Tierro, who had four runner-up finishes in the event presented by Cebuana Lhuillier and Metro Global Holdings.

“We had been playing for so long, so we are already familiar with each other’s games,” said Arcilla, expecting a tough duel with Tierro for the top P100,000 purse in tomorrow’s finals.

In the women’s side, three-time champion Marian Jade Capadocia will slug it out with sixth seed Marinel Rudas, while No. 4 Maika Tanpoco and fifth pick Hannah Espinosa will dispute the other finals berth.

The ladies side stakes P50,000 to the winner.