SECOND-SEEDED Patrick John Tierro nailed the men's singles title by eking out a 1-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-2) upset victory over top-seeded Johnny Arcilla at the close of the 3rd National Men's and Women's Invitational Tennis Championships Sunday night at the Woodridge Tennis Club in Ma-a here.
Former De La Salle University player Tierro, Philippine Tennis Association (Philta)-ranked men's No. 4 as of Feb. 28, 2014, survived a 7-6, 7-6 win over country's No. 6 and fourth-seeded Marc Reyes in the semi-finals on the heels of whipping Leander Lazaro of the National University, 6-2, 6-2.
Three-time PCA champion Arcilla of Butuan City, Philta-ranked No. 2, booked a finals berth by escaping past No. 5 and third-seeded Elberto Vicente Anasta of Negros Occidental, 7-6, 6-3, in their semis clash after subduing ex-University of Mindanao standout Ronard Joven of Isulan, Sultan Kudarat, 7-5, 6-3, in the quarter-finals.
The 27-year-old Tierro, born in Charleston, South Carolina, U.S.A., told Sun.Star Davao, "I just played my game. Medyo lucky lang at the end of the match. Close naman yung laban so it could go either way. Lucky lang at the end."
Arcilla, for his part, said, ""Ok raman ang duwa nako. Nigwapo man pud duwa ni PJ. Ana gud ang tennis pag na break ka kas-a sa serve, tapos na ang duwa (I played well and so did Tierro. That's tennis, when you have service break, the game is over)." Arcilla told Sun.Star Davao.
Davis Cupper Arcilla said he and Tierro have played each other many times but he could not recall the times he emerged as the winner, saying, "Kadaghan nami nagduwa. Last namong duwa kadtong Olivarez shell court.
Daghana kaayo meet niya sa una pa. Labaw siguro ko niya gamay lang. Wala pa pud sya kadaug sa shell court sa ako (We played several times. The most recent that we faced each other was at the Olivarez shell court. I think I'm still ahead of him by a few wins. He hasn't beaten me yet at a shell court though."
Tierro pocketed P30,000 cash while Arcille settled for the runner-up prize of P15,000.
Tierro's mixed doubles tandem with University of Sto. Tomas netter Ralph Kevin Barte of Davao City, however, bowed to the pair of Joven and Reyes, 3-6, 2-6.
National University's Jzash Canja of Kidapawan City and University of San Carlos' Sally Mae Siso of Cebu City, meanwhile, beat Edilyn Balanga, born and raised in Spain, and Aileen Rogan of General Santos City, 6-1, 4-6, 6-1 to capture the women's doubles title.
The 24-year-old Balanga, a team silver medal performer in the 2013 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Myanmar, bounced back by crushing Marinel Rudas of DLSU, 6-1, 6-2 to clinch the women's singles title and the P20,000 purse.
Rudas and Joven earlier copped the mixed doubles crown at the expense of Lazaro and Hannah Grace Espinosa.
The rest of the winners also received cash prizes in the netfest presented by Merco, Selecta and Flot Group.
Arcilla thanked the organizers for hosting them, "Salamat sa hospitality. Inalagaan talaga kami."