Arcilla, Tierro march into finals

MANILA, Philippines - Johnny Arcilla and Patrick John Tierro have faced each other in the finals so many times that they’ve both lost track of the number.

Today, they meet again, and will dispute the crown in the Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open-Asian Tennis Federation (ATF) tournament at the PCA shell-clay courts.

The title duel, their third in less than a month, is set at 2 p.m.

Arcilla turned back 15-year-old Jose Maria Pague of Zamboanga City, 6-1, 6-1, in just 50 minutes while Tierro needed more time beating Marc Anthony Reyes, 7-6 (8), 6-3, in the semis.

The finals is anybody’s ballgame.

“We’ll see. PJ (Tierro) played so well last week,” said the 36-year-old Arcilla after he breezed past Pague, who just ran out of gas against the tournament’s top seed.

“To beat PJ, I will need to win the first set. Otherwise, I will have trouble catching him,” added Arcilla.

In the Olivarez Cup earlier last month, Arcilla beat Tierro in the finals. Then in last week’s PCA Open, Tierro got back at Arcilla for his second PCA title.

Tierro said he doesn’t know what to expect in today’s finals. 

“It’s because we’ve faced each other so many times. I really have no idea how many times. But he still leads our head-to-head,” said Tierro.

“Let’s just see who wakes up on the right side of the bed,” added Tierro, 31. The champion gets $1,200, and runner-up $900.

Arcilla had anticipated a tougher time against Pague, saying that it’s always difficult to face a younger player who knows how to play.

“I just played his game. I used long balls and surprised him with my drop shots. Then he started making errors. He’s very young but he has the potential,” he said.

Pague was taken to school yesterday.

“He’s too good for me. And I was so tired,” said Pague, who reached the semis by beating the seasoned Onyok Anasta the other day in a match that lasted two hours, 20 minutes.

He was no match against Arcilla, who won the first of his eight PCA Open men’s singles titles in 2001, when Pague, who will turn 16 on Thursday, was barely months old.

Pague, tall and lanky, has reason to be tired playing his third tournament in a month.

In the Olivarez Cup, he bagged the titles in the under-16 and U-18 divisions. Because he was entered in two divisions, he experienced playing three matches in one day.

“I had to play the quarterfinals and semifinals of the U-18 bracket in the morning and then the semis of the U-16 bracket in the afternoon,” he said.

Then in last week’s PCA Open, he reached the men’s quarterfinals.

“Pagod na,” said Pague, who flies home to Zamboanga with more than enough in prize money ($725) to get him the best pair of tennis shoes and a couple of rackets.

The event is supported by The Philippine STAR, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, 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, L&M, Broadway Motors, Stronghold Insurance, Seno Hardware and Monte.