Arcilla, Korean ace arrange title showdown

Second seed Johnny Arcilla capitalized on Pop Sabandon’s weak backhand to reach the finals of the P400,000 Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open Tennis Championships at the PCA indoor courts in Plaza Dilao yesterday.

Boosted by his nine-title streak this year, the 23-year-old Arcilla scored a 6-3, 6-4 victory over the Marawi City-born Sabandon to make his fourth trip to the finals.

Arcilla will meet top seed Korean Chung Hee-Seok, who clobbered fourth seed Joseph Victorino, 6-1, 6-0.

Chung, currently ranked No. 703 in the world, lost to Joseph Lizardo in the 1998 finals. He and compatriot Seung Yoo Chung were also runners-up to Lizardo and Michael Misa in the doubles.

The men’s and ladies singles finals will be played on Sunday.

"Inatake ko sa backhand, tapos pasok agad sa net," said Arcilla, who scored a 6-2, 6-3 quarterfinal victory over Sabandon in the GMA Cup last June, their first meeting this year. Sabandon beat him in the Coca-Cola Open two years ago.

Arcilla, who will banner the national team in the Vietnam SEA Games next month, is optimistic on his title bid.

"Kumpiyansa talaga ako sa laro ko ngayon. Malaking bagay yung sunud-sunod na panalo ko. Kung hindi magbago yung palo ko, may pag-asa na makuha ko ulit yung titulo," added Arcilla, who was runner-up in 1999 and 2000 before hoisting the trophy the following year.

Against the Korean, Arcilla said he will have to be patient. "Magaling yung Korean, tiyagaan na lang. Sanay naman ako sa init."

Leading 3-2 in the first set, Arcilla took a three-minute medical timeout because of nosebleed.

Meanwhile, top seeds Rina Caniza and Jennifer Saret downed Michelle Panis and Bernardine Sepulveda, 6-1, 6-2, to advance in ladies doubles semifinals of this event presented by Dunlop and sponsored by Diadora, PLDT, Procter and Gamble, Coca-Cola, Copacabana, San Miguel Corporation, Stronghold, Little Lawrence, PVL Restaurant and the Philippine Star.

Caniza and Saret will face fourth seeds Alyssa Anne Labay and Bien Zoleta, who scored a 6-2, 6-3 victory over sixth seeds Trudy Amoranto and Aileen Rogan.

In other matches, second seeds Ana Patricia Santos and Czarina Mae Arevalo demolished No. 8 Ziarla Battad and Julie Ann Cadiente, 6-1, 6-1, to advance against unseeded Divine Escala and Josephine Paguyo, 6-1, 6-3.