INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?It?s take five for both Johnny Arcilla and Czarina Mae Arevalo as the veteran duo again crowned themselves the king and queen of the PCA Open Sunday.

Playing with so much pride, Arcilla and Arevalo blasted young pretenders Marc Reyes and Anna Christine Patrimonio, respectively, to nail their fifth titles apiece?the most by any player in the 28 years of the tournament.

Arcilla, 29, didn?t have to use brute force to overpower the spunky 20-year-old Reyes, wisely placing his shots on the slippery shell court to score a masterful 6-3, 6-3, 6-1 triumph.

It was the fourth straight title for the Davis Cup mainstay Arcilla, who also won the event in 2001.

The now Thailand-based Arevalo also kept her deadly poise against the temperamental Patrimonio, winning 6-2, 6-3. That came a day after Arevalo eliminated her title rival?s younger sister, Anna Clarice, in the semifinals.

The 24-year-old scholar of Bangkok University also bagged the title in 2007, 2005, 2003 and 2002 to surpass the four victories scored by Maricris Fernandez and Jennifer Saret in this tournament presented by Cebuana Lhuillier.

What was billed as a battle of experience against youth proved one-sided with Arcilla humbling the Milan, Italy-based Filipino-Italian Reyes, who was cheered by relatives from his parents? town in Nueva Ecija.

?I used my experience against [Reyes],? said Arcilla, who will see action in the Southeast Asian Games in Laos next month. ?He is a good player but today I am the best.?

Despite the defeat, Reyes boosted his chances of making the RP team after announcing plans to try out for the Davis Cup squad.

?I?m happy because I proved myself,? said Arevalo, the country?s former No. 1 who felt slighted when she wasn?t selected for the Southeast Asian Games team.

?But that?s all over now, I have accepted it.?

On her way to the locker room, she bumped into the 17-year-old Patrimonio, the top seed and currently RP No. 1, who hugged and congratulated her.

The eldest daughter of three-time PBA Most Valuable Player awardee Alvin Patrimonio couldn?t hide her emotions during the match, throwing her racket in disgust four times and even hitting the ball toward the roof when she netted a return at match point.

?I know she?s pressured because she is in the national team,? said Arevalo.