Tierro, Iglupas roll into Tunafest Open quarters

MANILA, Philippines - Top seeds Patrick John Tierro and Khim Iglupas braced for tough quarterfinal round matches by disposing of their respective rivals with relative ease in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Tuna Festival Open at the Gen. Santos Tennis Court in Gen. Santos City yesterday.

Tierro, itching to redeem himself from a failed title bid in the recent Olivarez Open, knocked off wild card Andrei Domingo, 6-0, 6-1, then trounced Bernardine Siso, 6-3, 6-2, to arrange a Last 8 duel with Ronard Joven in the top ranking event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and hosted by the country’s tuna capital.

Joven, ranked seventh in the tournament presented by Technifibre, also the official ball, eased past Julius Mingoc, 6-2, 6-0, and Leander Lazaro, 6-2, 6-4, even as second seed Johnny Arcilla toppled Dominador Lagare, 6-1, 6-1, and Arniel Aya-ay, 6-1, 6-2, in the lower half of the 32-player draw of the event sanctioned by the Philippine Tennis Association headed by president and Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez.

Casey Alcantara, chasing a second straight Open crown after upending Tierro in the Olivarez Open, produced the worthiest win in the day by shutting out No. 8 Arvin Ruel, 6-0, 6-0, for a crack at the semis against Fil-Italian No. 4 Marc Reyes, who survived Israel Abarquez, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.

“We expect action to pick up in the quarters where surprises could come in bunches given the depth of the field in both sides,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.

Meanwhile, Arcilla, a many-time PCA Open and three-time Olivarez Open champion, will next face sixth-ranked Fritz Verdad, who scored a walkover win over Kenneth Salvo, while third seed Vicente Anasta whipped Einathan Abella, 6-3, 6-2, to seal a clash with unranked Christian Edullantes, who scored a 1-6, 7-5, 4-0 (ret.) win over Lyndon Labandero.

The seeded bets likewise cruised to the quarters in the ladies side of the event backed by this year’s host  Dominador Lagare with Iglupas downing Carlyn Guarde, 6-1, 6-1, for a clash with Christine Patrimonio, who demolished Nicole Bautista, 6-0, 6-1, and second seed Edilyn Balanga fashioning out a 6-0, 6-1, romp over Joy Sapitanan for a showdown with Hanna Espinosa, who won via default over Jocely Casal.

Third seed Clarice Patrimonio dominated Shairyl delos Santos, 6-2, 6-0, and will next meet Sally Mae Siso, who ripped Danna Abad, 6-2, 6-0, while No. 4 Marinel Rudas also scored a walkover win over Winona Cabardo, for a face-off with Jzash Canja, who bundled out Joyce Haro, 6-1, 6-1.

Meanwhile, top seed Christine Patrimonio and Joven whipped Jhun Aberde and Shairyl delos Santos, 6-3, 6-2, to seal a semis showdown with the Iglupas-Arcilla pair, which blasted Israel Abarquez and Joyce Haro, 6-2, 6-1, in the mixed doubles.

Alcantara and Hanna Espinosa battled back from a set down then outlasted the second seeded pair of Anasta and Balanga in the decider to hack out a 1-6, 6-4, 10-7 victory to barge into the semis against Tierro and Christine Patrimonio, who also went through a thrilling three-setter to repulse Bernardine Sio and Sally Siso, 4-6, 6-1, 11-9.