Top seed Clarice Patrimonio dominates in PCA Open first round

Clarice Patrimonio ready for a serve. Photo by June Navarro/INQUIRER

Clarice Patrimonio swung her racket in full strength at every given opportunity to topple Erika Manduriao, 6-2, 6-1, Tuesday in the ladies singles of the 34th Philippine Columbian Association Open-Cebuana Lhuillier Wildcard Event.

After the top-seeded Clarice took care of business, older sibling Christine had a much easier time with a walkover win opposite Kimberly Keethler on the newly refurbished clay turf of the PCA courts in Paco, Manila.

“I’m just warming up after taking a rest for a week,’’ said Clarice after breaking Manduriao with coercive returns six times.

Clarice, part of the silver-winning women’s team in the Singapore Southeast Asian Games, faces Crizzabelle Paulino while Christine, seeded ninth, takes on Lenelyn Milo Wednesday.

“We trained frequently before that one-week rest. I hope to play better in the next round, I just need to focus more,’’ said Clarice, a Hotel and Restaurant Management sophomore at National University.

Despite bundling out in the quarterfinals of last year’s meet, the daughters of former PBA star Alvin Patrimonio are considered pre-tournament favorites along with second seed Marinel Rudas, No. 3 Edilyn Balanga and the fourth-ranked Maia Balce.

Paulino crushed Janina Luis, 6-0, 6-1 after Milo snuffed out Jennylyn Magpayo’s late surge to prevail, 6-1, 7-6 (3).

Rudas moved to the second round with a 6-0, 6-1 demolition of Jana Exconde, Balanga trounced Precian Eve Rivera, 6-1, 6-0, and Balce scored a 6-1, 6-1 rout of Princess Castillo.

Fifth seed Sjaira Hope Rivera and sixth ranked Hannah Espinosa also proved lethal after blowing out Ana Atangan, 6-1, 6-0, and Monica Cortez, 6-0, 6-0, respectively.

In other matches, Krizelle Sampaton blanked Shekinah Terrible, 6-0, 6-0; Miles Vitaliano defeated Jana Hernandez, 6-3, 6-3; Frances Santiago survived Jana Pages, 7-5, 6-2; and Rafaella Villanueva clobbered Crystalyn Sabas, 6-0, 6-0, in the meet backed by Puma, Dunlop, Head, Babolat, Compass/Imosti and Saranggani representative Manny Pacquiao.

Meanwhile, defending champion Patrick John Tierro resumes his title-retention bid in the fourth round against Noel Damian while eight-time champion Johnny Arcilla, last year’s runner-up, faces Arthur Craig Pantino.

Francis Casey Alcantara, a former Australian Open juniors doubles champion, will be pitted against Roel Capangpangan while top junior netter Alberto Lim Jr. will have to get past Argil Canizares to advance.