Heavy favorite Marian Jade Capadocia overpowered seventh seed Alexa Joy Milliam, 6-2, 6-2, on Friday to move on the verge of claiming her eighth title in the 39th Philippine Columbian Association Open Tennis Championships at its Plaza Dilao indoor shell court in Paco.
Capadocia, a Manila native who made it through via 6-0, 6-1 rout of Kyle Emana in the semis the day before, didn’t waste time in disposing of Milliam and securing her spot in the finals set tomorrow (Sunday).
There, the 27-year-old, two-time Southeast Asian Games bronze medalist would face either second pick Jenaila Prulla or giant-slaying qualifier Alexa Santos, who were playing at press time.
If she beats anyone of the two, she would add to her growing legend in this tournament bankrolled by Smart/PLDT, official ball Dunlop, Manila councilor Jong Isip, San Jose Salt, W. L. Food Products, Palawan Pawnshop and Pagcor.
“Of course, we always strive to win but I expect it to be tough whoever I face in the finals,” said Capadocia.
Milliam, who scrambled to make the semis via a nail-biting 6-4, 2-6, 6-3 triumph over Justine Hannah Maneja the day before, tried to put up a brave front, but just didn’t have anything to stop Capadocia’s brilliant shotmaking and rock-solid baseline game.
Between the two, Capadocia appears to be a little wary of Prulla, who is stronger and more experienced now compared the leaner version in the title showdown the former easily won three years ago.
“I haven’t faced Santos but I saw her play and Prulla is a little bigger now and she’s obviously younger,” said Capadocia. “I hope to play extra careful who ever between them I face.”
Capadocia and Prulla are also on a collision course in the women’s doubles as they both made the semis with the former partnering with Angeline Alcala in besting Maneja and France Lorin Idjao, 6-3, 7-5, and the latter teaming up with Makeilah Nepomuceno in downing Miles Vitaliano and Maria Patricia Lim, 6-0, 6-3.
The event is staking a whopping cash purse worth around P1.1 million with the P200,000 going to the men’s singles winner and P100,000 to the women’s signles titlist courtesy of GAC Motors, GIMACA Convenience Store and Development Corp., Ourzen Chicken, HEAD, Ms. Rina Caniza, Mr. Benito Tan, Primo Dept Fuel Station, Kaizan Steel Trading, Cazneau, Inc. and Knaut Art Glass.