Saturday, May 10, 2008 Guba seeks repeat By Marian C. Baring Sun.Star Staff Reporter
YANNICK Guba has a chance to prove that his win over RP No. 2 player Patrick John Tierro last week was no fluke as the two arranged a titular showdown today following separate emphatic semifinals at the Cebuana Lhuillier Men’s Open Tennis Championship yesterday at the Baseline Recreation Center tennis courts.
The two will also face off in the doubles finals after their tandems won in the semis yesterday (see story below).
Guba of Bacolod City was luckily drawn against lower-ranked players in the competition but riding on the momentum of his championship win in Lucena City last week, Guba still left some major damage in the competition, casting out some of the country’s top junior players including ITF Junior Top 70 player Niño Alcantara and internationalist Pablo Olivarez.
Guba, who is the No. 4 player in the competition, booted out another teenage star, Ralph Kevin Barte in straight sets, 6-1, 6-2 in yesterday’s semifinals. Barte failed to extend the aggressiveness he showed when he upset RP No.1 Johnny Arcilla in the quarterfinals the other day.
“I really prepared for Barte because he is a very consistent player. He was still very confident following his win against Arcilla so I had to intervene before he gets all worked up. Inunahan ko na, mataas-taas pa kasi ang kompyansa niya,” Guba said.
Guba will complete his succesful run if he repeats his Lucena City feat over Tierro today. Guba defeated Tierro in the semifinals of the Anacleto C. Alcala Memorial Cup National Open championship last week, 6-4, 6-3, and went on to win the title.
“With PJ, I need to have a different strategy. He has a strong solid service game so I would need to amp my reception, which worked out for me last week,” Guba added.
In the zone
Tierro meanwhile, easily trounced Rolando Ruel, 6-1, 6-4, in the semifinals and while he is looking forward to his rematch against Guba, he said he does not want to call it a grudge rematch.
“I don’t want to say that I want to avenge my loss last week. Yannick and I are really good friends and we will just play good tennis in the finals,” said Tierro, adding that he will still strive his hardest.
“I have been in the zone lately and I have been playing well so far so I will just try my hardest in my championship match,” Tierro said.
Both Tierro and Guba have been going head-to-head for many years and their rivalry dates back to the time when they were still playing in the juniors division.
They faced each other for years now that they could not remember even remember how many times they have won over the other.
