INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines?Jeson Patrombon sputtered after a strong start and blew his bid for a title slot Saturday in the 15th Sarawak Chief Minister?s Cup-ITF World Junior tennis championship in Kuching, Malaysia.

The 17-year-old Patrombon, a semifinal loser last week in Thailand, took the first set but couldn?t close the deal as Australian James Duckworth rallied for a 4-6, 6-1, 6-2 victory.

Duckworth arranged a title showdown against compatriot Andrew Whittington, who eliminated Dane Webb of the United States, 6-1, 6-4, in the other semifinal duel.

Patrombon and Francis Casey Alcantara, who bowed out in the third round of the Malaysian tourney and in the quarterfinals in Thailand, will now focus on the Mitsubishi Lancer international junior championships set in Manila this week.

Patrombon was given a wild card entry in the tourney slated March 23-28 along with four compatriots in the boys? category and five more in the girls? division.

Alcantara, the 2009 Australian Open juniors doubles champ who is ranked 39th in the world, made it to the main draw outright along with world No. 9 Mate Zsiga of Hungary, No. 27 Fil-American Raymond Sarmiento and No. 30 John Morrisey of Ireland.

Also making it as wild cards were Filipinos Leander Lazaro, Kim Ivor Saraza, Akio Sy, Jacob Lagman and Malaysian Ariez Elyaas Deen Heshaam.

In the girls? section, the local wild card entries are Anna Clarice Patrimonio, Patricia Joy Orteza, Marian Jade Capadocia, Shannin Mae Olivarez and Marinel Rudas, and Vietnam?s Tamitha Nguyen.

Meanwhile, three Filipino boys bowed to their respective foes in the qualifying Sunday.

Simon Spencer of the US crushed Calvin Charles Canlas, 6-0, 6-0; Gabor Csonka of Hungary whipped Romain Lepoutre, 6-1, 6-1; while Sylvester Alamdar outclassed John Mavrick Victoria, 6-1, 6-1. Mansingh Athare of India also prevailed over American Daniel Um, 6-1, 6-0. Marc Anthony Reyes