SUBIC BAY FREEPORT ZONE-TOP SEED Patrick John Tierro reaffirmed his lofty standing, dominating fellow Davis Cupper Johnny Arcilla, 6-2, 7-5, Saturday night in the men's singles finals of the Cebuana Lhuillier-sponsored Subic Bay Invitationals here.

Using his thunderous serves and masterful groundstrokes, the 6-foot-1 Tierro dictated the tempo of the match when he broke Arcilla in the fourth and eighth games to easily win the first set.

Arcilla rallied behind a serve-and-volley game to take a 4-1 lead in the second set, but Tierro slowly worked himself back into the fight.

From 3-5, the 20-year-old Tierro won the next four points to secure the victory in the duel between the two locals who will be teaming up with Fil-Ams Cecil Mamiit and Taimo in the RP team playing in the Southeast Asian Games late this month.

"I'm glad to win in front of my supporters," said the pride of Olongapo City. "This is a night to remember."

While thanking his coach Beeyong Sison and Cebuana Lhuillier executive vice president and general manager Jean Henri Lhuillier for their support, Tierro said that he was lucky enough to finish the game before the rains fell on this former military installation.

"My feeling is that I'm on a roll and I don't want a delay," he said. "Of course, I'm also ready to slug it out anytime because Johnny is a dangerous foe.

Story by Dennis U. Eroa, sports editor of Inquirer Libre, a sister publication of INQ7.net