Thursday, May 08, 2008 Arcilla, Tierro make quarterfinals in doubles
THE country’s top two singles players advanced to the quarterfinal round of the Cebuana Lhuillier Open doubles contest after an easy, 6-2, 6-2, win over Mark Balce and Michael Quiñones at the Baseline Restaurant yesterday.
Johnny Arcilla and Patrick John Tierro, the No. 1 and No. 2 players in the country, will face the winner between Jean Henri Lhuillier, Jun Toledo and Jesse Lapore, Randy Villanueva, in the semi-finals round.
Arcilla and Tierro, who won the doubles gold in the Southeast Asian Games, had it easy yesterday, needing only 18 minutes in the first set and another 20 in the second for their first win.
Aside from Arcilla and Tierro, Elbert Anasta and Yannick Guba advanced to the quarterfinal round, along with Niño Alcantara and Ralhp Kevin Barte.
Anasta and Guba of Dumaguete City defeated Mark Contreras and Jaime Solon, 6-3, 7-5, to move on to the round-of-eight.
On the other hand, Alcantara and Barte ended a second set comeback by Antonio Sagansay and Gilbert Estrada for their 6-0, 7-5 win.
Alcantara, who is the world No. 73 Juniors player and Barte only conceded seven points in their first set win and took the first game in the second.
However, Sagansay and Estrada finally took a game, and added two more for a 3-1 lead in the second.
Sagansay and Estrada was poised to extend the match to a third set before Alcantara and Barte caught up at 6-6 before winning the tiebreak.
The 16-year-old Alcantara said he does not feel any pressure knowing their opponents are older than them.
“Mas ganado nuon ko, knowing they are veterans,” he said. UP Mass Comm Intern Karen Nacario.
