Otico, Capadocia claim PCA crowns

MANILA, Philippines — Bryan Otico blew a two-set lead but recovered and wore down veteran Patrick John Tierro in the decider to hack out a 6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 3-6, 6-4 thriller of a win and snare the men’s singles crown in the 36th PCA (Philippine Columbian Association) Open at the PCA courts in Paco, Manila yesterday.

Marian Jade Capadocia earlier cashed in on Clarice Patrimonio’s miscues in the second set and came away with a 6-3, 6-4 victory to reclaim the ladies singles title.

Otico, 18, came out smoking but cracked when the going got tough, enabling Tierro to fight back and force a fifth set where the former bounced back to frustrate the two-time champion and pull off the win in a grueling four-hour encounter.

“I dished out my best and played pressure-free since I had nothing to lose here,” said Otico, who banked his biggest paycheck in a young career worth P100,000.

Tierro settled for P50,000.

Earlier, Capadocia took the points in long rallies and pounced on her rival’s errors, including two double faults that put the former ahead at 4-1 in the second. She held sway from there, foiling Patrimonio’s rally with clutch shots to clinch the hard-earned victory.

“It’s a great feeling winning this title again,” said Capadocia, who dominated this annual event for four straight years from 2011 before campaigning abroad.

Patrimonio took the crowns in 2015-16.