Cramps force Victorino out of title duel

SUBIC —— Fourth seed Rolando Ruel Jr. barged into the finals of the second Coca-Cola National Open Tennis Championships, ousting top seed and defending champion Joseph Victorino, 2-6, 7-6 (6), 6-4, yesterday at the Subic Bay International Tennis Center.

Victorino’s right leg started to hurt at the start of the third set. The pain lessened and allowed him to recover from a 2-4 deficit but the cramps came back as he was trying to return Ruel’s volley.

"Hindi ko na kaya, matindi yung sakit," said Victorino, the 2002 PCA Open champion and Philta Open winner last month. "Sayang talaga, nakahabol pa naman ako sa third set."

Victorino’s condition also forced him to default his doubles quarterfinal match against Joseph Arcilla and Ricardo Lagac Jr.

"Mahirap na, baka lalong lumala kapag pinilit ko pang maglaro. Babawi na lang ako sa Cebuana Lhuillier tournament next week," said Victorino, who was to team up with Alexander Lazaro.

Ruel will shoot for his first-ever Open title against third seed Johnny Arcilla, a 7-5, 6-0 winner over second seed and 2003 Philta Open runner-up Adelo Abadia.

"Second time ko na makakaharap si Johnny sa final. Magaling siya pero lalaban akong nang husto," said Ruel, who lost to Arcilla in the 2000 Milo Open at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

The third-seeded pair of Ruel and Jesse Lapore also reached the semifinals after posting a 3-6, 6-1, 7-6 (2) victory over sixth seeds Roland Kraut and Antonio Sagansay.

Arcilla, coming off back-to-back titles in Bohol and Mandaue, is optimistic.

"Maganda naman ang nilalaro ko ngayon. Sana, makuha maka-tatlong sunod na title ako," said Arcilla, who teamed up with Michael Mora III to beat the Nestor Celestino and Raymond Villarete, 6-2, 6-1, in the quarterfinals.

In the women’s singles, top-ranked Ana Patricia Santos scored a 6-1, 6-2 victory over College of St. Benilde player Deena Rose Cruz to advance in the finals of this Philta-sanctioned Group A event sponsored by Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority chairman Felicito Payumo, Union Bank, PLDT, Dunlop-Slazenger, Wilson Sports and Penn, the official ball.

Santos, the Philta Open champion, will face second seed Alyssa Labay of Bacolod City, a 6-2, 6-3 winner over No. 3 Bien Zoleta of Lucena City.

In the women’s doubles, Ara Micayabas and Zoleta stunned second seeds Aileen Rogan and Santos, 6-1, 7-5, to advance in the finals against top seeds Ivy de Castro and Labay.