INQUIRER Sports

JOHNNY ARCILLA AND BAMBI ZOLETA will defend their crowns when the P500,000 Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open fires off this Friday at the club?s shellcourts in Paco, Manila.

Organizers led by chair Roland Kraut have invited foreign players for the event that will mark the return of four-time titlist Maricris Fernandez, now 30, to competitive tennis.

Arcilla, the tournament?s four-time champ, said he is raring to play again on the soft and slippery surface of PCA which proved the bane of the Davis Cup campaigns of Pakistan and New Zealand this year.

?My Davis Cup experience is a big plus for me,? Arcilla told yesterday?s launch of the country?s longest running tennis event.

Arcilla, who saw action in back-to-back ITF Futures tournaments in India, beat fellow Davis Cupper PJ Tierro, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 5-7 6-3, 6-1, in a four-hour classic to take last year?s title.

The event, now on its 27th year, will begin with age group, team and club competitions this Friday.

Qualifying rounds in the men?s and women?s singles will not start until Nov. 9, with the main draw blasting off on Nov. 14.

Zoleta said she?s not worried by the opposition that, apart from Fernandez, will feature fellow national pool members Michelle Pang, Denise Dy and Christine Patrimonio.

After three bridesmaid finishes in the past, the 18-year-old Zoleta finally captured her first PCA Open last year, beating three-time champ Czarina Mae Arevalo, 6-2, 4-6, 6-2.

Also attending the press conference were tennis patron Jean Henri Lhuillier, PCA president Jose Patajo, and Philippine Lawn Tennis Association president Julito Villanueva.