Manila: Marc Andrei Jarata clobbered Raymond Diaz, 8-4, in the men's singles qualifying round Friday to secure a main draw ticket to the 42nd Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open Tennis Championships in Manila. Also advancing to the main draw were Aljohn Talatayod, Sebastian Santos, Evan Bacalso, Neil Tangalin, Fritz Jerome Bernales, James Aquino, and Isaac Christian Lim.

According to Philippines News Agency, Jarata, a junior sports science student of the University of the Philippines, will face Cebuano Arthur Craig Pantino in the first round on Saturday. He did not progress past the first round last year. Jarata expressed his determination, stating, "I will try my best to win against Iggy, if not at least to be able to prove to myself that I gave it all I had to put up a fight. If I don't (win), I will still take it as a win because it's a privilege to play against a member of the national team."

Pantino played in the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group IV playoff in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in July. The Philippines defeated Kyrgyzstan, 2-0, and was promoted to Group 3. Meanwhile, in the women's singles, top seed Kaye Anne Emana will battle Steffi Marithe Aludo in the first round. The country's top junior players, Tennielle Madis, Chloe Mercado, Bea Gomez, and Althea Faye Ong, are also in the main draw as wild cards.

In women's doubles, Elsie Abarquez and Rovie Baulate will kick off their title defense against other wild cards Erynne Francesca Ong and Princess Laurine Tana. Abarquez and Baulate previously beat Bambi Zoleta and Aileen Rogan, 6-3, 6-2, in the 2024 finals.