Top seed Jeson Patrombon and No. 2 Johnny Arcilla both moved a victory away from sealing another explosive title showdown, trouncing their rivals in similar straight-set fashions to roll into the semifinal round of the PPS-PEPP City of Mati Open in Davao Oriental yesterday.
Patrombon, 29, came away with a 7-5, 2-0(ret.) win over Jose Maria Pague following a 6-1, 6-1 romp over Brent Cortes while Arcilla dispatched NJ Enriquez, 6-3, 6-2, after repulsing a tough Alexis Acabo, 6-3, 4-6, 10-2, in the lower half of the 32-player draw in the tournament presented by Dunlop.
But the top guns brace for a stiff challenge from No. 4 Josshua Kinaadman and Nilo Ledama, respectively, after the former, ranked fourth in the first Open tournament co-organized by City of Mati Tennis Club president Rosendo Linsag, crushed fifth seed Leander Lazaro, 6-3, 6-2, and the latter shocked veteran Vicente Anasta, 6-3, 6-2.
Ledama broke Anasta right in the second game of the opening set then traded serves to cruise to victory then surprised his third seeded rival again in the fifth and seventh games of the next frame to fashion out the 21-minute, 26-second romp.
But the Pagadian City bet, who also upended No. 6 Fritz Verdad, 6-3, 7-5, will need more than power and guts to upend the seasoned Arcilla, who is gunning for a second straight Open championship after beating Lazaro to capture the Fr. Suarez Open in Navotas City last month.
Patrombon, who missed the Fr. Suarez Open to help spearhead the country’s campaign in the recent Hanoi SEA Games, also expects a tough outing against Kinaadman but remains upbeat of his chances for the top P40,000 purse in the week-long tournament put up by Palawan Pawnshop president/CEO Bobby Castro.
Patrombon and Arcilla also gear up for a duel in doubles play with the former teaming up with Anasta against Jarell Edangga and Cortes and the latter partnering with Noel Damian, Jr. against Eric Tangub and Acabo in the quarterfinal round being played at presstime, according to event organizer Bobby Mangunay.
Other pairings pit Kinaadman and Jelic Amazona against Ledama and Pague; and Lazaro and Verdad versus Norman Enriquez and AJ Alejandre.