Arcilla-Tierro snares title in Olivarez Tennis

MANILA—Top pair Johnny Arcilla and Patrick John Tierro pulled out every stop against No. 7 duo Ronard Joven and Celestino Solon, 6-4, 6-4, to clinch the men’s doubles title in the First Olivarez-Philta Open Tennis Championship at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat, Paranaque.

“Medyo nahirapan rin kami sa kanila dahil maganda ‘yung palo nila [Joven and Solon] pareho. Pero tiwala naman ako sa partner ko dahil matagal na kami magkasamang naglalaro,” said Arcilla who also topped the men’s doubles of the 2010 Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open alongside Tierro.

In women’s doubles, Tamitha Nguyen and Aileen Rogan went through the proverbial eye of the needle to get past the aggressive tandem of Jessica Agra and Bambi Zoleta in a 7-5, 6-7 (6), 13-11 thriller.

“We’re happy to beat these good players in front of us. It’s been a great experience and we’re looking forward to winning more titles in the coming tournaments that we’ll be joining, probably the 2011 PCA Open,” said Nguyen, who also copped the title in the singles division of the 2010 Vietnam International Junior Championships Becamex Cup.

Arcilla and Tierro won P18,000, while Nguyen and Rogan took home P8,000 cash prize in the tournament supported by Dunlop and sanctioned by the Philippine Lawn Tennis Association (Philta) headed by Rep. Edwin Olivarez Jr.

In the Pro-Am doubles, Philta Vice-President Randy Villanueva and Manuel Suarez squeaked past Gee Abacan and Nestor Baui, 3-6 7-6 (9) 10-4.

The much-anticipated match up of Arcilla and unseeded Joseph Victorino takes the spotlight as they duel for the title in men’s singles, while Zoleta and top seed Christine Patrimonio slug it out for the crown in women’s singles.

A whopping P80,000 cash prize awaits the men’s champion while the women’s titlist takes home P40,000.