Tierro bests Arcilla to win PCA Open

PATRICK John Tierro bested cramps-stricken arch rival Johnny Arcilla, 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (7-5), on Sunday to bag the Philippine Columbian Association Open Cebuana Lhuillier-ATF Tour title at PCA shell-clay courts in Paco, Manila.

Tierro battled the 36-year-old Arcilla shot for shot on the soft and slippery surface that suited their slow-burn style to nail the $1,200 top purse. Arcilla went home with $900.

The victory was Tierro’s second consecutive against Arcilla, whom he also beat in the finals of last week’s PCA Open. A week before that, Arcilla scuttled him for the Olivarez Cup title.

“It was a good match; Johnny made me work harder,” Tierro said of his foe, who asked for medical timeout at the start of the second set due to cramps.

Tierro, a veteran Davis Cupper, has been named coach of the Ateneo team in the UAAP.

With the failure of several Iranian players to secure visas, Tierro earlier lamented the lack of high-level competition in the tournament that is part of the Asian Tennis Federation tour.

He got his hands full in the semifinals when he survived Fil-Italian Marc Reyes, 7-6, 6-3.

In the women’s final, Clarice Patrimonio edged sister Christine, 4-6, 6-0, 6-2. The duo later bagged the ladies doubles’ crown after besting sisters Marian Jade and Jella Capadocia, 6-2, (ret.).