Patrimonio, Capadocia forge title clash

MANILA, Philippines—Clarice Patrimonio and Marian Capadocia proved too much for their respective foes Saturday as they arranged a showdown for the ladies’ singles title of the 30th Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open championships at the PCA indoor shell-clay court.

The No. 1-ranked Patrimonio changed her game plan after dropping the first set and ousted No. 5 Tamitha Olivarez-Nguyen, 6-1, 3-6, 6-3, while Capadocia overpowered Mariel Ante, 7-5, 6-4.

This will be Patrimonio’s first finals in the PCA Open after defending champion Desirae Krawcyzk quashed her chances in the semis last year.

“It’s hard to say what will happen in the finals. I’ll just do my best,” said Patrimonio when asked about Capadocia, who is fresh from her Hong Kong Open Junior Tennis Championships 2011 stint.

The ladies singles finals is set at 11 a.m. Sunday followed by the showdown of top seed Johnny Arcilla and newcomer Jurence Mendoza for the men’s singles title.

A total of P500,000 is up for grabs in the event supported by Alagang Cebuana Plus, Just Jewels, Le Soleil De Boracay, Phiten, Pera Padala, Babolat, Head, Dunlop, PVL Restaurant, Whirlpool,

Coca-Cola, San Miguel, Lizardo Tennis Academy, Tennis Athletes Unlimited, Phil. Prudential Life Insurance Co. Inc., Gilmore and PLDT.

The men’s singles champion will receive P100,000 while the ladies’ winner takes home P50,000.

In the juniors division, Maia Balce downed Jenni Celine Dizon, 6-0, 6-3, to bag the crown in the girls’ 14-under, while Alexi Santos turned back Chloe Saraza, 2-6, 6-1, 6-2, for the girls’ 12-under title.