Tierro downs Parpan

Reigning champion Patrick John Tierro and top seed Jeson Patrombon took different routes in advancing to the third round of the 36th Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open men’s singles yesterday at the PCA indoor shell-clay courts in Paco, Manila

The 32-year-old Tierro dusted himself off from a horrible second-set show against Kyle Parpan to keep his title retention bid alive with a 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 win, while Patrombon breezed through his sets against Calvin Canlas, 6-2, 6-3.

“Dito sa PCA Open kailangan focused parati dahil malalakas ang mga kasali especially this year. Hindi pwedeng mag-relax kaya kailangan nasa kundisyon ako everytime na papasok sa court. Sana mas maging maganda ang laro ko sa next game,” said Patrombon, who was fresh off ITF Futures tournament in Hong Kong, China and India before displaying his sharpened skills at the PCA Open.

Tierro will battle John Altiche who defeated Ernesto Pantua, 6-3, 6-2 to carve his spot in the next round. Patrombon will face Betto Orendain who prevailed over Marcen Gonzales, 7-6 (4), 6-3.

Eight-time champion Johnny Arcilla, ITF juniors campaigner John Bryan Otico, sixth seed Elbert Anasta and No. 8 Filipino-Italian Marc Reyes also marked their spots in the next round in the event supported by The Philippine Star, Asian Traders Dunlop, Pearl Garden Hotel, Babolat, Tyrecorp Inc., PVL Restaurant, Greenfield Marketers One, Mary Grace Foods Inc., Coca-Cola Philippines-FEMSA, Kraut Art Glass, Manuel Misa and Atty. Antonio Cablitas.

Arcilla made short work of Jan Seno, 6-2, 6-3, while Otico shocked veteran Rolando Ruel Jr. 6-3, 6-1. Anasta subdued Raymund Diaz 6-2, 6-4 as Reyes was near flawless against John Sonsona, 6-1, 6-3.

The veteran Arcilla eyes a seat in the quarterfinals as he battles Argil Canizares who outclassed Joshua Cano, 6-4, 6-3, while Otico is up against another stalwart, fourth seed Ronard Joven, who quashed Rolly Saga, 6-1, 6-1.