Top seed Johnny Arcilla reasserted his dominance on the shell-clay courts Sunday by dethroning Elbert Anasta, 6-1, 7-5, 6-4, as the men’s singles champion of the Olivarez Cup Open tennis championships at Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat.
The 33-year-old Arcilla, who exploited his familiarity with the same surface to nail seven PCA Open titles, methodically cut down his Davis Cup teammate with a mix of power and pinpoint placements to wrap up the win in less than two hours.
“He’s a very good player and it’s dangerous to let your defenses down against him,” Arcilla said in Filipino of his 30-year-old opponent. “That’s why when I got the chance, I took control.”
Arcilla also paired with Anasta to rule the men’s doubles with a 6-4, 7-6 (7-4) win over Patrick John Tierro and Marc Reyes.
It was the third straight singles title for Arcilla since the Philta Open and PCA Open late last year.
The victory in the event, presented by Palawan Pawnshop and held in honor of former Parañaque Mayor Dr. Pablo Olivarez, will also provide a morale boost for Arcilla who is expected to be named again to the Philippine Davis Cup squad that will take on Thailand next month.
On the way to the crown, Arcilla routed Kyle Joseph, 6-0, 6-1, in the first round, Arc Dolorico, 6-0, 6-1, in the second, brother Joseph, 6-3, 6-2, in the third, Kim Saraza, 6-2, 6-1, in the quarterfinals and Rolando Ruel Jr., 6-2, 6-4, in the semifinals.
Anasta, who beat Tierro to capture the crown last year, ousted the 6-foot-1 Tierro in the semifinals, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3.
Marian Jade Capadocia took the women’s singles title by beating last year’s winner Clarice Patrimonio, 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) earlier Sunday. But Clarice and sister Christine came back to down Marian and sister Jella Capadocia, 6-4, 6-2, in the doubles finals.
Meanwhile, the sponsoring Palawan Pawnshop, through COO Bobby Castro, resumes its age-group tournaments with the staging of the Cainta-Palawan Pawnshop Open on March 18 to 24.