INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?Jeson Patrombon sent his 12th-seeded Chinese foe packing but compatriot Francis Casey Alcantara took it in the chin again Thursday in the round of 16 of the 15th Sarawak Chief Minister?s Cup-ITF World Junior tennis championships in Kuching, Malaysia.

Hoping to gain the same measure of respect the more popular Alcantara enjoys plus extra ITF world-ranking points, Patrombon demolished 6-foot-4 Wang Chuhan, 6-1, 7-5, to advance to the quarterfinals of the Grade 1 event.

The fourth-seeded Alcantara failed to match Patrombon?s form for the second straight tournament and bowed to 14th seed American Dance Webb, 7-5, 4-6, 6-4.

Patrombon arranged a clash with 16-year-old American Mitchell Krueger, who eliminated Ukraine?s Leonard Stakhovsky, 6-3, 6-4.

Alcantara, the other half of the 2009 Australian Open junior doubles champion pair, flew back to Manila Friday to prepare for the the Mitsubishi Lancer Open which starts next week at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

?Jeson has been gaining and building confidence in this circuit,? said Patrombon?s coach Manny Tecson. ?Against Wang, he had so many chances to take an early service break (in the second set), but Wang kept on coming up with big serves.? Marc Anthony Reyes