Velez, Rogan pull off scary Suarez Cup wins

MANILA, Philippines — Patricia Velez and Aileen Rogan hacked out a pair of cliffhangers to seal a clash for the women’s singles crown while Johnny Arcilla and Jeson Patrombon breezed past their respective semifinal rivals in the first PPS-PEPP Fr. Fernando Suarez Cup at the Colegio San Agustin in Bulacan last Friday.

The top-seeded Velez, who earlier scored a walkover win over Mikaela Vicencio, recovered from a stinging opening set loss by surviving No. 4 Frances Santiago’s gutsy stand in the second frame. The Davaoeño ace then imposed her will in the decider to clinch a 2-6, 7-6(4), 6-3 victory.

Regina Santiago, who stunned No. 3 Miles Vitaliano, 6-3, 6-1, in the quarters, also gave No. 2 Rogan a big scare in their side of the semis duel but the latter regained her rhythm in the second set and fashioned out a 5-7, 6-3, 6-3 victory.

Arcilla and Patrombon, meanwhile, completed the day of the favorites as they rolled past PJ Tierro tormentor Vicente Anasta, 6-2, 6-2, and Bryan Otico, 6-1, 6-0, respectively, to arrange a showdown for the men’s singles title in the Open tournament held in honor of the healing priest and presented by Asiatraders Corp. with Slazenger and Dunlop as official balls.

Tierro and Patrombon later demolished Mark Alcoseba and Joseph Arcilla, 6-2, 6-4, to advance to the finals against Anasta and Johnny Arcilla, who trounced Frank Encarnacion and Leander Lazaro, 6-1, 6-4, in the men’s doubles of the event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop headed by president/CEO Bobby Castro and sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines.