MANILA, Philippines - Defending champion Clarice Patrimonio put a stop on Edilyn Balanga’s amazing run with a scrambling 6-4, 4-6, 6-3 victory even as Marian Capadocia mastered top seed Marinel Rudas, 6-4, 6-3, to advance to the ladies finals of the third Olivarez Cup Open Tennis Championship at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat Friday.
Patrimonio, who beat Rudas in three to capture last year’s crown, recovered from a second set meltdown as she overpowered Balanga in the decider to keep her title-retention bid going in the event presented by Palawan Pawnshop and held in honor of former Parañaque mayor Dr. Pablo Olivarez.
But the third seeded Capadocia stole the spotlight with her straight-set victory over Rudas, setting the stage for an explosive showdown between two of the country’s leading netters.
Top seed Johnny Arcilla and doubles partner No. 2 defending champion Vicente Anasta, meanwhile, stayed on course for a showdown for the men’s crown as they fashioned out a pair of emphatic victories in the quarterfinal round.
Arcilla clipped giant killer Kim Saraza, 6-2, 6-1, to set up a semis clash with No. 4 Rolando Ruel Jr., who rallied from a set down to frustrate Leander Lazaro, 1-6, 6-3, 6-2, in the tournament sponsored by Dunlop Sports, Stronghold Insurance, FedEx Air21 and Olivarez Sports Center.
Anasta, on the other hand, showed too much class in ousting No. 6 Ronard Joven, 6-2, 6-0, to arrange a Final Four duel with Parick Tierro, who subdued Mark Anthony Alcoseba, 6-2, 6-2, in their side of the quarters duel.
Arcilla and Anasta, meanwhile, advanced to the doubles finals with a scary 4-6, 6-2, 10-2 win over Pablo Olivarez and Alcoseba while Tierro and Marc Reyes took the other finals berth with a 6-0, 6-2 romp over Michael Madrio and Fritz Verdad.
Clarice and sister Christine Patrimonio also reached the finals of the women’s doubles, fighting back from a 6-7(5) loss with a 6-3, 10-8 victory over Hazel Espinosa and Marinel Rudas for a sibling clash with Marian and Jella Capadocia, who trounced Maia Balce and Aileen Rogan, 6-4, 6-3.