Tierro, Arcilla lead home pros vs foreign aces

MANILA, Philippines – Davis Cup veterans Patrick John Tierro and Johnny Arcilla brace for a fierce showdown with a slew of foreign aces as the PCA Open-Cebuana Lhuillier ATF Tour gets going today at the PCA indoor courts in Paco, Manila.

Tierro and Arcilla will be joined in the 32-player main draw by Filipino-Italian Marc Reyes, Davis Cup standout Elbert Anasta, Kyle Parpan, Argil Lance Canizares, Rolando Ruel, Ronand Joven, Jose Maria Pague, Mark Ervin Concepcion and Eric Olivarez Jr.

Tierro beat Arcilla in last week’s PCA Open with Reyes and Anasta reaching the semifinals, making them the best local bets in the tournament sanctioned by Asian Tennis Federation and Philippine Lawn Tennis Association.

“I have always been excited every year for PCA Open, more so in the last two years as it has become an international tournament. This will give our local players the chance to pit their skills with the best from Asia and gain world ranking points,” said Cebuana Lhuillier president/CEO and Philta chairman Jean Henri Lhuillier.

Indian stalwarts Parth Aggarwal and Medhir Goyal, Iranian Mohammadali Mamaghaninia and Mustafa Alsaedi head the foreign challenge.

“We need to dish out our best since we’re facing a strong foreign challenge,” said eight-time PCA titlist Arcilla, who copped the doubles title in the Manila ITF Week 2 last year with 2009 Australian Open boys’ doubles champ Francis Casey Alcantara.

Arcilla, the tournament’s top seed, earned an opening round bye while Parpan battles Ruel (Center Court), and Reyes takes on Concepcion (Court 1) at 12 noon. The other matches pit Anasta versus Mamaghaninia, Tierro against Olivarez, Aggawal versus Joven, Canizares against Goyal and Alsaedi versus Pague.

A total of $7,500 is at stake in the ATF event supported by The Philippine Star, 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, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, L&M, Broadway Motors, Stronghold Insurance and Monte.

The winner gets $1,200 while the runner-up will receive $900.