Tierro routs rival, arranges duel with mentor

Top seed PJ Tierro smothered Terrence Estrope with his power serves and variety of shots to cruise to a 6-0, 6-2 victory yesterday in the 28th Philippine Columbian Association Open at the PCA shell courts in Plaza Dilao, Paco, Manila.

The 22-year-old Tierro dominated Estrope from start and finished off his rival with a service winner and an ace to advance to the next round against national team coach Chris Cuarto.

“I practiced for a month here, maybe that’s my advantage,” said Tierro, who led the RP team to a runner-up finish in a tournament in Malaysia last month.

It was the second straight game that Tierro needed less than an hour to dispose of a rival, bundling out Estrope in 50 minutes in the event presented by Cebuana Lhuillier and backed by The STAR.

But Tierro, chasing his first PCA Open crown, is expected to encounter stiff challenge against Cuarto, a 30-year-old veteran who is more involved in coaching than playing at present.

Cuarto overwhelmed Kyle Cordero, one of the country’s top junior players, 6-2, 6-3.

“I’ve forgotten when, but I already lost to him (Cuarto) once,” said Tierro, who has been trained by Cuarto for almost two years now.

“While he is more experienced, I feel I’m better conditioned,” Tierro said.

Second pick Johnny Arcilla, winner of three PCA Open titles, stayed on track for a fourth crack at the crown as he demolished qualifier Von Ruelan, 6-2, 6-2.

The win set Arcilla, who won in 2001, 2006 and last year when he beat Tierro for the championship, against Mico Santiago, who edged Leander Lazaro, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.

Ralph Kevin Barte, Elbert Anasta, Alexander Lazaro and Ronald Joven downed their respective rivals to advance to the next round.

No. 4 Barte walloped Daniel Bautista, 6-3, 6-0; No. 5 Anasta trounced La Salle coach Roland Kraut, 6-0, 6-3; No. 7 Lazaro won over Mac Mac Contreras, 7-5, 6-1; and No. 8 Joven slammed Naoto Yamanaka of Japan, 6-2, 6-0.

Other results saw Japanese Kaoru Yokohama and Hiroki Katoh beat No. 13 Raymond Villarete, 6-4, 6-3, and qualifier Rolee Joven, 6-4, 6-1, respectively; Mario Sabas win over Gilbert Estrada, who retired, 6-1, 6-7 (8) 0-1, and Mico Santiago outlast Leander Lazaro, 6-2, 3-6, 6-4.