Casey cruises; Clarice rallies in openers

MANILA, Philippines - Francis Casey Alcantara and Anna Clarice Patrimonio carved out victories in varying fashions to advance to the second round of the Phinma International Juniors Week 2 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

The top seeded Alcantara, 17, set in motion his bid for a second straight crown as he booted out Chinese Xing Bang Liu, 6-4, 6-1, in the featured match in the boys’ singles of the event sponsored by Phinma Group of Companies.

Alcantara, who trampled Japanese Yoshihito Nishioka, 7-5, 6-0, to win the Week I crown last Sunday, faces the winner of the Romar Hernandez of the US and Japan’s Takashi Saito match in the Last 16.

Patrimonio, on the other hand, rallied from a first-set loss and beat Thailand’s Nattawadee Kotcha, , 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, to avert a shutout for the RP girls in the tournament backed by Tecnifibre Balls, Powerade, Viva Mineral Water, Century Park Hotel and the Philippine Sports Commission.

After dropping the opening set, the 16-year-old Patrimonio regained her bearing and blazed her way in the next two sets behind a combination of crisp forehand winners and solid returns to clinch the win. Patrimonio, ranked 573rd in the world in the ITF, will next meet the winner between fifth seed Rana Sherif Ahmed of Egypt and Riko Sawayanagi of Japan, who are still playing at presstime.

Her victory made up for the losses of sister Anna Christine Patrimonio, Patricia Orteza, Shannin Olivarez, Marianne de Guzman and Jasmine Ho. Anna Christine absorbed a 6-3, 3-6, 0-6 loss to Rona Lavian of Israel, Orteza bowed to top seed Zhu Lin of China, 0-6, 1-6; Olivarez succumbed to another Chinese Zhao Qiangian, 3-6, 1-6; de Guzman lost to Thai Nahathai Kuntaket, 1-6, 2-6; and Ho dropped a 5-7, 1-6 setback to Japanese Sane Ota.

Belgian Jasmine De Sutter stunned sixth seed Mana Ayukawa of Japan, 6-1, 7-5, while Swiss qualifier Corina Jager surprised No. 7 Noy Mor of Israel, 6-2, 6-1.

The other RP boys chasing spots in the next round are second pick Jeson Patrombon, who is up against Italy’s Antonio Marcarelli, Kim Saraza, who is competing against No. 4 Phassawit Burapharitta; Akio Sy, who is tangling with Gianmarco Cacace of Italy; Juan Fidel Regis, who is pitted against Week 1 runnerup Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan; John Maverick Victoria, who will go up against Australian Jack Schipanski; Leander Lazaro, who will face Dor Belfer of Israel; and Paul Magaway, who will take on Daniel Skripnik also of Israel.