Defending champions Johnny Arcilla and Bambi Zoleta are confident in their bid to defend their men’s and women’s singles titles, respectively, in the Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open set October 23 to November 22 at the PCA claycourts in Paco, Manila.

Arcilla, who will actually shoot for a fifth crown, said he will use his experience while Zoleta plans to take it one game at a time in the 27th edition of the tournament.

“Malaking bagay yung Davis Cup experience ko ngayong taon at yung mga local at international tournaments na nasalihan ko. Saka kampante ako sa court dahil gusto ko talaga yung court surface dito sa PCA,” Arcilla said in yesterday’s launch of the event.

Arcilla rejoined the RP Davis Cup team last September when the squad competed against New Zealand in the Asia Oceania Zone Group II finals, also at the PCA courts. He has also joined a tournament in India middle of this year.

Zoleta, meanwhile, said she has been consistently training locally and is not at all threatened should PCA multi-titlist Maricris Fernandez decides to join this year.

Fernandez, a Southeast Asian Games veteran and former national team member, has won four PCA titles in the 1990s-- the last time in 1999.

“Hindi naman ako threatened kung sasali siya. Basta gagawin ko lang lahat ng makakaya ko para manalo,” said the 18-year-old Zoleta.

PCA Open chairman Roland Kraut said they invited Fernandez, as well as other foreign netters, to join. Interested players have until November 5 to register for the men’s and women’s hostilities.

Qualifying rounds in the men’s and women’s divisions start on November 9 with the main draw opening on November 14. Age-group and team/club divisions competitions fire off on October 23.