Patrimonio, Arcilla trip rivals, earn final berths

MANILA, Philippines - Johnny Arcilla and Anna Christine Patrimonio came away with big victories yesterday to advance to the championship round in the first Metro Open People’s Championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennnis Center.

Arcilla, the men’s singles top seed, overcame a first set loss to down Jaime Solon, 5-7, 6-1, 6-3, while women’s eighth pick Patrimonio upended No. 5 Jessica Agra, 6-4, 6-2.

Arcilla’s win moved him closer to the top P60,000 purse and an automatic berth in the Philippine Davis Cup team which plays Hong Kong next week in the first round of the Asia-Oceania Zone Group II Davis Cup competitions in Hong Kong.

Out to foil Arcilla is teammate and long-time doubles partner Patrick John Tierro, who beat No. 4 Ralph Barte, 6-3, 6-1, to claim the second finals berth.

On her way to the finals, Patrimonio needed just 35 minutes to bundle out Agra and arrange a championship duel with third seed Aileen Rogan, who beat Ma. Regina Santiago.

Rogan won the first set tiebreak, 7-5, before Santiago retired with a left leg injury.

The 16-year-old Patrimonio, daughter of four-time PBA MVP Alvin, broke out of a 4-all count in the first set by snaring the next two games. She set herself up for the victory with three service breaks in the second frame as she pounced on Agra’s faulty serves, including eight double faults.