Alcantara, Patrombon vie vs world top juniors

MANILA, Philippines - Top RP bets Casey Alcantara and Jeson Patrombon get to see action against some of the world’s leading junior players as the 21st Mitsubishi Lancer ITF Junior Championships unwraps today at the Rizal Tennis Center.

Alcantara gained outright entry to the main draw due to his high ITF rankings while the fast-rising Patrombon gained one of the country’s wild card berths in the week-long event.

Anna Clarice Patrimonio likewise gained an automatic spot in the main draw of the girls side for her higher ranking.

Other Filipino wild card entries are Leander Lazaro, Kim Saraza, Akio Sy and Jacob Lagman along with Patricia Orteza, Shannin Olivarez, Marinel Rudas and Tamitha Nguyen.

Jasmine Ho, meanwhile, had to do it the hard way as she turned back a higher-ranked Gulnara Gabdouline of Turkmenistan, 7-5, 3-6, 6-3, to emerge the lone Filipino qualifier.

But while the 15-year-old Ho advanced, Marianne de Guzman and Katrina Orteza fell short of their respective bids in the two-day elims.

De Guzman put up a fight in the second set but ended up absorbing a 3-6, 5-7 setback to Chinese Taipei’s Wang Ting Yan while Orteza fell to Thailand’s Rongrong Leenabanchong of Thailand, 3-6, 3-6.

Mate Zsiga of Hungary and Irina Khromacheva of Russia are currently the highest seeded netters in the boys and girls events, respectively, following their world No. 9 rankings.

While Alcantara is rated higher, focus will be on the vastly improved Patrombon, who is coming off a strong semifinal finish in a Grade 1 tournament in Kuching, Malaysia recently.

Rudas and Nguyen, meanwhile, reached the quarterfinals in the Grade 4 Brunei ITF Circuit in Bander Seri Begawan two weeks ago. – Joey Villar