Arcilla, Tierro set semis tiffs vs seeded Koreans

Fourth seed Johnny Arcilla bucked an ankle injury and went on to repulse fifth-ranked Rolando Ruel Jr. in a thrilling duel, 6-4, 3-6, 7-5, and barge into the semifinal round of the men’s singles event in the 23rd PCA Open at the PCA shell courts in Paco, Manila yesterday.

RP’s No. 1 Patrick John Tierro also moved to the semis phase as the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games gold medalist disposed of former national team member and seventh seeded Adelo Abadia via a 6-1, 6-1 romp.

The 20-year-old Tierro will face third seeded Seo Yung Bum, who downed eighth seeded Alexander Lazaro, 6-2, 6-1, in the semis today.

Holding a 3-2 lead in the first set, the 25-year-old Arcilla tumbled after spraining his right ankle in the sixth game. But the 2001 champion refused to crack up and fought back to hold serve, win the game and take a 4-2 advantage.

"It was very hard to move it. I guess my mind just took over from my hurting ankle," said Arcilla.

He, however, will have to double his effort in the semis as he will face top seeded Chung Hee Seok, the former Korea Open champion who clobbered younger brother Chung Hee Sung, 6-2, 6-1.

In the women’s singles, fourth seeded Bambi Zoleta scored a 6-2, 6-2 win opposite sixth seeded Trudy Amoranto, and will clash with unseeded Arra Micayabas, who defeated fifth seeded Alyssa Labay, 6-1, 6-3. The women’s semifinal is set tomorrow.

The finals of the week-long meet backed by Solar Sports, Accel, PVL Restaurant-Little Lawrence, Philippine Star, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Sun Village, Las Palmas, Poweraide, Coca-Cola, Stronghold Insurance, San Migul Brewery, Maresa Creative Group, Cel Consolidators, PMS Ship Agency, MILS, Equitable-PCI, Burlington, Pixel Project and Dunlop is set Sunday.