Grizzled veterans Johnny Arcilla and Elbert Anasta hurdled their respective opponents in contrasting fashions to march to the quarterfinals of the 39th Philippine Columbian Association Open Tennis Championships at its Plazao Dila indoor shell court in Paco.
The top-seeded Arcilla, 42, routed Norman Enriquez, 6-0, 6-2, while the fourth-ranked Anasta, 40, battled cramps and outlasted upset-conscious Alexa Acabo, 2-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2), to claim their place in the round-of-eight.
Arcilla will battle the winner between John Renest Sonsona and Joseph Victorino, which was being played at press time, with hopes of sustaining his quest for a 10th crown in this meet bankrolled by Smart/PLDT, official ball Dunlop, Manila councilor Jong Isip, San Jose Salt, W. L. Food Products, Palawan Pawnshop and Pagcor.
“So far, so good,” said Arcilla.
Anasta, for his part, will tackle either Ronard Joven or fifth seed Muthu Senthilkumar of India, with an eye of surpassing, if not replicating, his best finish—semis—thrice.
But Anasta’s bid almost came to a screeching halt as he almost succumbed to cramps in the third and final set and the tiebreaker.
There was a point when Anasta blew a 3-2 lead in the third set and even trailed 6-5 and had some grim thoughts of just giving up because of the cramps that had started to hit both his tired and weary legs.
Good thing he didn’t.
“I was close to giving up but I’m happy I kept fighting,” said Anasta.
In the other men’s singles result, Jose Antonio Tria ended Jude Michael Padao’s dream run with a 6-3, 6-1 win.
In women’s singles, Alexa Joy Milliam blasted Mikaela Vicencio, 6-1, 6-1, and Justine Hannah Maneja turned back Joana Tan, 6-4, 6-4, to advance to the quarters of this tilt backed by GAC Motors, GIMACA Convenience Store and Development Corp., Ourzen Chicken, HEAD, Ms. Rina Caniza, Mr. Benito Tan, Primo Dept Fuel Station, Kaizan Steel Trading, Cazneau, Inc. and Knaut Art Glass.
Also barging into the next phase were Makeliah Nepomuceno and Kyle Emana, who eliminated Angeline Alcala, 6-4, 6-2, and Kryshanna Brazal, 6-2, 6-0, respectively.