PCA Open: Arcilla makes it six; Capadocia scores

MANILA, Philippines—Top seed Johnny Arcilla clinched his sixth Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open men’s title in 10 years by walloping newcomer Jurence Mendoza, 6-1, 6-0, 6-4, Sunday at the PCA indoor shell-clay courts.

Working behind an array of groundstrokes, the 31-year-old Arcilla easily snuffed out hopes of an upset by Mendoza, who muddled up the formchart with a stunning win over second seed Elbert Anasta in the second round.

“I wanted to finish it off early because I know I didn’t have the advantage if the match wears on because he’s younger and had more stamina,” Arcilla said in Filipino.

Sharing the limelight with Arcilla was Mary Jane Capadocia, who rallied past top seed and fellow Southeast Asian Games campaigner Clarice Patrimonio, 2-6, 6-0, 6-3, in the women’s finals of the tournament presented by Cebuana Lhuillier.

In a battle between members of the team that copped the bronze in the SEA Games in Jakarta, Capadocia found her rhythm after losing the first set and went on to complete the upset win in two hours and 10 minutes.

Arcilla asserted himself early, winning 12 of the first 13 games, then bucked a hurting groin in the third set on his way to topping the 30th edition of the most prestigious local tournament and the P100,000 champion’s purse.

The straight-set win added to Arcilla’s victories in 2001, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009.

Arcilla actually pulled off a victory double as he joined forces with Patrick John Tierro to take the men’s doubles title at the expense of Anasta and Ronard Joven, 6-4, 6-2.

“I wasn’t able to warm up well, but I took advantage in the second and third sets because she was a little impatient with the long rallies,” said the 16-year-old Capadocia, a senior at Arellano High School, who collected P50,000 for her feat.

Patrimonio consoled herself with the women’s doubles title, teaming up with Tamitha Nguyen to rout the tandem of Louise Lopez and Aileen Rogan, 6-1, 6-1.