‘All-Filipino’ PCA Open starts

MANILA, Philippines — It will be a strictly all-Filipino affair when the Philippine Columbian Association Open tennis championships unfurl Saturday at the PCA indoor shell-clay courts.

Last year’s champions, foreign-based Filipinos Marc Sieber and Desirae Krawczyck begged off from the 30th edition of the event, leaving the homegrown talents to slug it out for top honors including five-time champion Johnny Arcilla, comebacking Patrick John Tierro and Davis Cupper Elbert Anasta.

Sieber, 22, is currently competing in the lucrative European Futures tournament. He has been tapped for the Philippine Davis Cup team but he encountered problems with his birth certificate and has yet to secure a Filipino passport.

Arcilla, 31, is trying to make one last shot at the championship, while Tierro hopes for a triumphant return after missing stints in the Davis Cup this year.

The women’s singles will be a showcase of rising stars like Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist Anna Clarice Patrimonio, Marian Jade Capadocia, Tamitha Nguyen and former champ Bambi Zoleta.

Krawczyck, 16, won the title last year, beating Anna Christine Patrimonio, 7-6 (7-1), 6-3, who is not entered this year.