MANILA, Philippines - Top seed Patrick John Tierro and No. 2 Johnny Arcilla trampled their respective rivals in varying fashions to remain on track of their keenly awaited showdown for the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala Open crown at the Naga City Tennis Club in Cebu yesterday.
Tierro, who routed Nilo Ledama, 6-0. 6-0, and held off Janji Soquino, 7-5, 6-2, in the first two rounds of the top-level event, pounced on Roel Capangpangan’s injury to score a 6-1, ret. win to seal a semis duel with third seed Vicente Anasta, who dominated Alvin Labastida, 6-1, 6-1, in the opener but struggled past Deo Talatayod, 6-3, 7-5, and fifth-ranked Fritz Verdad, 7-5, 6-2, to stay in the hunt for the top P40,000 purse.
Arcilla, seeking a sweep of the Open titles in the season-ending event of the country’s premier circuit sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop, overpowered qualifier Gabriel Riconala, 6-1, 6-2, whipped Argil Canizares, 6-0, 6-3, before disposing of Leander Lazaro, 6-1, 6-0, to arrange a Final Four clash with No. 4 Ronard Joven, who eased past Christopher Encarnacion, 6-2, 6-1, trounced Kennex Abadia, 6-3, 6-2, before surviving No. 6 Arvin Ruel, 4-6, 6-1, 4-3 (ret.) in the quarterfinals.
The semis cast thus features the top four seeds in the event highlighting the Dagitab Festival celebrations hosted by Mayor Valdemar Chiong with Tierro and Anasta clashing for the first finals berth today at 10 a.m.
Arcilla and Lazaro dispute the other championship slot at 11 a.m.
“With the tournament’s top four clashing for finals berths, we expect no less than thrilling, down-to-the-wire matches,” said Palawan Pawnshop CEO and president Bobby Castro.