MANILA, Philippines - With a depleted foreign cast, the 35th Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open-Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) tournament quickly turned out to be an all-Filipino affair.
Patrick John Tierro, formerly the country’s top player, showed the way in yesterday’s opening day at the PCA indoor shell-clay court by turning back Eric Olivarez Jr., 6-2, 6-3.
The 31-year-old Tierro, a two-time PCA Open champion and slowly turning into coaching, relied on his experience to get past his younger opponent.
“He had a slow start and I took advantage of it,” said Tierro, who just won the PCA Open men’s singles title a few days ago at the expense of Johnny Arcilla.
Tierro moved on to today’s quarterfinals against Rolando Ruel Jr., a 7-6 (3), 6-3 winner over compatriot Kyle Benjamin Parpan.
This early, another title showdown between Tierro and Arcilla, also a long-time member of the national team, is being projected.
Arcilla, the tournament’s top seed, drew a bye yesterday.
Of the 11 invited foreign players, only two of them made it to the tournament offering a winner’s purse of $1,200 and a runner-up purse of $900, but with no ITF ranking points.
Vicente Elberto Anasta won by walkover against Mohammad Ali Mamaghaninia of Iran. Jose Maria Pague took the same route with a walkover win over Mustafa Alsaedi of Iraq.
The only foreign players who made it to the four-day tournament were Medhir Goyal and Parth Aggarwal of India.
Goyal took an early exit when he lost to 19-year-old Argil Lance Canizares of La Salle, 6-1, 6-3, while Aggarwal bowed to Ronard Joven, 6-3, 6-0.
Tierro said the absence of the foreign players makes things easier – on paper. But he said there’s no guarantee in any tournament held at the PCA courts.
“Here at PCA anybody can beat you. It was hot earlier,” said Tierro after he breezed past Olivarez, who’s still completing his studies in the United States.
Canizares, a sports management senior, will meet Marc Reyes in today’s quarterfinals, more confident than he was yesterday.
“I was nervous at the start but when I beat him (Goyal) in the first set the pressure went away, and I was able to focus on my game,” said Canizares, who has won titles as a junior but none in the men’s division.
In an all-Filipino clash, Reyes trounced Mark Ervin Concepcion, 6-0, 6-2.
Some of the country’s finest players are not around, like Nino Alcantara who is competing in Canada; AJ Lim who’s vying in the juniors division of the US Open; and Jason Patrombon, who’s in Taiwan.
The event, which is part of the Asian Tennis Tour, is supported by The Philippine Star, Dunlop, Whirlpool-Fujidenzo, Chris Sports, Mary Grace, Aseana City, PVL Restaurant, Maverick, Compass, Babolat, Just Jewels, Rexona, Palm Rock, Coca-Cola Femsa Philippines, Pearl Garden Hotel, Pearl Lane Hotel, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, L&M, Broadway Motors, Stronghold Insurance and Monte.