RP netters cruise past doubles rivals

Top seed PJ Tierro and Johnny Arcilla smashed Gerard Abacan and Sydney Mella, 6-2, 6-0, yesterday at the start of the doubles event in the 26th Philippine Columbian Association Tennis Open at the PCA courts in Plaza Dilao, Manila.

Tierro and Arcilla, members of the RP team seeing action in the 24th Southeast Asian Games, needed just a little over an hour in overwhelming Abacan and Mella to advance to the next round against Gabby Remegio and Dennis Sta. Cruz.

Remegio and Sta. Cruz downed Antonio Quiza and John Sabado, 6-1, 6-4, in this event backed by The Philippine STAR, Hewlett Packard, Accel, Dunlop, Seno Hardware, Burlington, PVL Restaurant, Tobi Peanuts, Kraut Art Glass, Pixel Project and Universal Paint.

“It’s a good start, we hope to sustain it,” said the 21-year-old Tierro, the top seed in men’s singles where he already booked a second round spot following a trouble-free 6-2, 6-2 win over Gino Bautista Saturday.

Third seed Elbert Anasta and Yannick Guba, No. 5 Alexander Lazaro and Rolando Ruel Jr., seventh pick Irwin de Guzman and Ralph Barte and No. 8 Ronald Joven and Rocky Paglalunan likewise had relatively easy time in barging into the second round of this tournament staking a total purse of P400,000.

Anasta and Guba trimmed Jordan Espina and Bernie Rapa, 6-0, 6-1, Lazaro and Ruel walloped Pereme Alina and Jandrick de Castro, 6-0, 6-2, De Guzman and Barte clobbered Alain Gomez and Carlito Rojo, 6-2, 6-0, and Joven and Paglalunan blanked Dindo Almeda and Gary Tria, 6-0, 6-0.