Marian Capadocia and Clarice Patrimonio forged another title clash in the PPS-PEPP Brookside Hills Open Tennis Championships, posting victories in lopsided fashions even as the big guns continued to dominate the men’s singles at the Brookside Hills Tennis Club in Cainta, Rizal yesterday.
The top-seeded Capadocia dropped just two games in three matches to earn another crack at the crown she won via a tough 6-4, 6-4 victory over Patrimonio last year, including a 6-1, 6-0 romp over Christine Patrimonio in the semifinals while the second-ranked Clarice yielded eight games to gain a shot at redemption, including a 6-4, 6-0 triumph over Khim Iglupas in the Final Four.
They dispute the crown and the top P25,000 prize at 1 p.m. today (Sunday) with Capadocia, 23, all primed up to make it two-in-row and Patrimonio raring to get back at the Antique City ace in the event put up by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala and backed by Rep. Jack Duavit, One Cainta, Bgy. San Isidro, Cainta, Rizal, BRAI, Feeds Edition Batangas, RMJ Agricultural, board member Ross Gongora, Allan del Castillo and Dunlop as official ball.
Jeson Patrombon and Johnny Arcilla likewise set a title clash of the top two seeds in men’s play at 3 p.m. today with the former repeating over No. 3 Vicente Anasta, 6-2, 6-2, and the latter overpowering No. 4 Fritz Verdad, 6-1, 6-1, in the semis.
Patrombon, who survived Leander Lazaro, 4-6, 6-1, 10-7, in the quarters, also whipped Anasta, 6-0, 6-3, to pocket the crown last year with the 26-year-old veteran Davis Cupper from Iligan City also dominating Arcilla in the Gov. Umali Cup in Oriental Mindoro last month.
Unlike Patrombon, Arcilla has turned in a more impressive showing this week, crushing Deo Talatayod, 6-1, 6-1, in the quarters then cruising past Verdad, who held off doubles partner Eric Jed Olivarez Jr., 6-4, 7-6(2), in the Last 8.
Meanwhile, Jenric Accion and Jelic Amazona hacked out a shock 1-6, 6-3, 10-6 victory over top seed Anasta and Mark Alcoseba to barge into the semis of the men’s doubles. They will next take on the Arcilla-Olivarez pair, which turned back Kinaadman and Antonio Tria, 7-5, 6-2.
Verdad and Lazaro fended off Joseph Arcilla and Alberto Villamor, 2-6, 7-6(8), 11-9, to clinch a semis spot in the lower half of the draw against Patrombon and Noel Damian Jr., who eased out Jude Ceniza and Harvey Gilbuena.
Making it to the women’s doubles semis are Capadocia-Iglupas, Miles Vitaliano-Mikaela Vicencio, Justine Maneja-Jenailia Prulla, and the Patrimonio sisters.
Up next in the country’s biggest and long-running talent-search is the Valle Verde leg, a juniors Group I tournament, on May 21-25, in Pasig while the Manila Southwoods will host the next stop for another Group I event on May 26-30 in Carmona, Cavite. Listup is ongoing. For details, call PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.