Mendoza, 3 others near main draw

MANILA, Philippines — Jurence Zosimo Mendoza recovered from a shaky start to stun veteran campaigner Sonchat Ratiwatana of Thailand, 2-6, 6-4, 6-2, and lead three other Filipinos to the qualifying round final of the Olivarez Cup-Philippine men’s international championship at Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Mendoza, 17, needed time to adjust to the game of Sonchat, who has had stints in the Davis Cup and is one of the senior players in the meet at 32 years old. But once the Subic-based lad got going, he proved unstoppable with his powerful baseline shots while the Thai lost steam.

Mendoza will face the winner of the match between Andrew Li Hei Yin of Hong Kong and Joshua Jordan of Malaysia still going on at presstime.

Earlier, Jeson Patrombon displayed composure to defuse Kyle Dandan’s power-charged game, 1-6, 7-6 (7-3), 6-4, to also progress to the final.

The erstwhile most promising Filipino netter overcame a lethargic start and found his rhythm just in time to turn back the United States-trained Dandan, who towered over him at 6-foot-1.

He will next battle second seed Andrew Ochotta of Canada for a slot in the main draw of the ITF circuit event which will be held in the country next month after being absent for 18 years.

Ochotta trounced Vietnam’s Artem Vu, 7-5, 6-1 to advance in the 32-man qualifying draw.

Also moving closer to main draw berths were Leander Lazaro and Tomas Francisco Puno who bundled out their respective foes.

Lazaro ripped Indonesian Gregorius Tahu, 6-0, 6-1, while Puno outlasted Medhir Goyal also of Indonesia, 6-4, 6-3.