INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?With a virtuoso performance that will go down as one of the finest in history, Johnny Arcilla made sure the PCA Open remains his exclusive domain for another year.

The long-time national tennis standout battled back from a set down twice to subdue top seed and Davis Cup teammate PJ Tierro, 4-6, 7-6 (5), 5-7, 6-3, 6-1, Sunday and claim a record fourth men?s singles crown in the 28th PCA Open at the PCA shell courts in Manila.

The 28-year-old Arcilla, the No. 2 seed, kept his mistakes to a minimum and dumbfounded Tierro with a relentless attack to capture the P100,000 top purse.

Sharing the limelight was Bambi Zoleta, who took her maiden PCA Open title over four-time champion Czarina Arevalo with a tough 6-2, 4-6, 6-2 win.

It was also the first time in five meetings that Zoleta, 16, prevailed against the 23-year-old Southeast Asian Games and Asian Games veteran, who was seeking a record fifth crown.

Zoleta, the top seed and the youngest runner-up of this tournament when she reached the finals against Arevalo as a 13-year-old three years ago, raced to a 3-0 lead in the third set.

Zoleta, who received P50,000 for her feat, yielded the next two games, but took the next three to avenge her 6-1, 6-2 defeat to Arevalo in 2005.

Earlier, Arcilla and Tierro ruled the men?s doubles event by dumping Cris Cuarto and Jeremy Salvo, 6-3, 6-4, to win the P20,000 prize.

Arevalo and Thailand?s Thassa Vitayviroj overpowered Bambi and Bien Zoleta, 6-3, 6-2, to win the women?s doubles title.