Khim stuns Clarice, gains final

THIRD seed Khim Iglupas pulled off a shock three-setter over top seed Clarice Patrimonio yesterday to barge into the finals of the ladies Open singles in the Olivarez Cup Open Tennis Championship at Olivarez Sports Center in Parañaque.

Second seed Johnny Arcilla, meanwhile, wore down No. 3 Marc Reyes to reach the men’s final.

Iglupas fought back from a first-set loss behind a solid baseline play and then broke Patrimonio once in the decider for a 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory in two hours and 20 minutes.

The win earned the 16-year-old Iglupas, a protégé of Romy Chan under the Philippine Tennis Academy Manila, a seat in the finals against Edilyn Balanga, who foiled No. 4 Maia Balce’s upset bid with a 6-4, 6-4 decision in the tournament presented by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Padala headed by president and COO Bobby Castro, with Technifibre as the official ball.

Balanga and Iglupas, who reached the semifinals of the Thailand and Jakarta ITF recently, dispute the crown at 1 p.m. today.

It was a big win for Iglupas, the Iligan City standout who primed herself up against Patrimonio with straight-set wins over Aimea Rosales, Mae Marilla and Marinel Rudas.

Arcilla scored a 6-2, 2-6, 5-0 (ret.) win over Reyes, who suffered cramps during the 2:35-hour match of the event staged in honor of Dr. Pablo Olivarez, one of the founding fathers of Philippine tennis, on his 80th birthday.

Top seed PJ Tierro and No. 4 Vicente Anasta were disputing the other final berth at presstime.