Tierro, Dy pull off contrasting wins, gain semis

Fancied Patrick John Tierro and Denise Dy took different routes in their respective divisions yesterday to advance to the semifinals in the 26th Philippine Columbian Association Tennis Open at the PCA courts in Plaza Dilao, Manila.

Tierro, the men’s top seed, outclassed former RP No. 1 Joseph Victorino, 6-2, 6-4, to keep his bid for a first title here while Dy, the women’s No. 1 top pick, needed a third set before stopping No. 6 Aileen Rogan, 4-6, 6-3, 6-4, to move on the next round in this tournament staking a total money pot worth P400,000.

Dy, who will be spearheading the RP lady netters’ campaign in the 24th Southeast Asian Games set Dec. 6-16 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand, groped for form in the first set but recovered in time for the win.

“I was too relaxed and I wasn’t focused in the first set,” said Dy, who had a doubles and team bronze medals in the 2005 Manila Games.

Tierro will next face No. 3 Rolando Ruel Jr., who trounced Joel Palao, 6-0, 6-3, while Dy will battle fellow National team mainstay Michelle Pang, a 6-2, 6-2 winner over No. 4 Arra Micayabas.

No. 2 Bambi Zoleta, 15, blanked 18-year-old sister Bien Zoleta, 6-0, 6-0, while No. 3 Czarina Mae Arevalo, 22, turned back comebacking Tracy Santos, 7-5, 6-3, to arrange an interesting semifinal duel today.

Arevalo, who had an athletic scholarship at Bangkok U, is confident she’ll pull through having beaten Zoleta, a two-time runner-up here, three times in the past, including in a tournament in San Pablo, Laguna.

“We’ll see if she has improved after that,” said Arevalo, who is seeking a fourth title 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.