PCA Open under way

Eight-time titleholder and defending champion Johnny Arcilla puts his title quest in motion today when he faces unranked Miguel dela Paz at the start of the 33rd Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open at the PCA claycourts in Paco, Manila.

Seeded second, Arcilla is expected to run roughshod over Dela Paz in their 11 a.m. encounter to advance into the next round of the 64-man field presented by Cebuana Lhuillier and Metro Global Holdings Corporation.

Arcilla, however, won’t have a pic- nic in the succeeding rounds as the event is littered with a number of very experienced entries, including former Davis Cuppers.

On top of that list is top-seeded Patrick John Tierro, the country’s No. 1 player, who will go up against Joshua Cano at 12 noon in the netfest that is dangling a top cash prize of 100,000.

Third-ranked and last year’s runner-up Marc Reyes also seeks to surpass his previous performance as he meets John Jeric Accion at 10 a.m., even as former Davis Cupper Elbert Anasta collides with Bryan Otico at 1 p.m.