PATRICK John Tierro easily barged into the quarterfinals but Argil Lance Canizares stole the spotlight after beating his Indian opponent yesterday in the Philippine Columbian Association Open-Cebuana Lhuillier ATF Tour men’s singles at PCA shell/clay courts.
Tierro trounced United States-based Jed Olivarez, 6-2, 6-3, to make the next round against Rolando Ruel Jr., who hurdled Kyle Parpan, 7-6 (7-3), 6-3, in the Asian Tennis Federation-sanctioned event.
“I like my chances, the draw is almost the same as the last week,” said Tierro who won the Philippine Columbian Association Open men’s singles last week. “But we’ll see, I’m not taking chances and will take it one match at a time.”
At least 12 players from Iran were denied visas and thus failed to make it to the tournament, leaving only four foreign players seeing action in the $7,500 meet.
One of them, Indian Medhir Goyal, already headed to the exits after 19-year-old Canizares fashioned out a 6-1, 6-3 victory.
“I was trying to size him up and when I figured out that I can beat him, I went all the way,” said Canizares, an incoming senior sports management student at La Salle.
Canizares got the crowd’s attention because of his aggressiveness despite playing an opponent who has been campaigning in International Tennis Federation Futures events.
He will next take on Filipino-Italian Marc Reyes who demolished Mark Ervin Concepcion, 6-0, 6-2.
“I haven’t played against him yet, but I will sure try my best,” said Canizares of the lefty Reyes who made the 2013 PCA Open finals.
Elbert Anasta and Jose Maria Pague walked over their respective rivals to set up a quarterfinals encounter.
Filipino stars Francis Casey Alcantara, Jeson Patrombon and Alberto Lim Jr., skipped the tournament because of competitions abroad.
Top seed Johnny Arcilla took a bye in the first round and will play either Parth Aggarwal of India or Filipino Ronard Joven in today’s quarterfinals.
The meet is being supported by Philippine Star, Dunlop, Whirlpool-Fujidenzo, Chris Sports, Mary Grace, Aseana City, PVL Restaurant, Maverick, Compass, Babolat, Just Jewels, Rexona, Palm Rock, Coca Cola Femsa Philippines, Pearl Garden Hotel, Pearl Lane Hotel, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, L&M, Broadway Motors, Stronghold Insurance and Monte.