Jeson Patrombon and Marian Capadocia exude confidence but wary of their respective title-retention drives in the PPS-PEPP Brookside Hills Open Tennis Championships unfolding tomorrow (Wednesday, May 15) at the Brookside Hills Tennis Club in Cainta, Rizal.
Patrombon overpowered Vicente Anasta, 6-0, 6-3, to claim the men’s singles crown last year but the 26-year-old veteran Davis Cupper expects a tougher outing this time against the country’s best and the brightest, led by Johnny Arcilla, Fritz Verdad, Mark Alcoseba, Noel Damian Jr., Deo Talatayod, Rolando Ruel Jr. and Anasta.
One thing going for the Iligan City ace is the momentum he had gained and confidence he had built from his straight-set romp over fellow national player and doubles partner Arcilla in the Gov. Umali Cup in Oriental Mindoro last month.
Like Patrombon, Capadocia hopes to re-stamp her class in their side of the duel with the Antique City bet going up against the likes of Khim Iglupas, Patricia Velez, Patricia Lim, Christine Patrimonio, Justine Maneja, Denise Bernardo and Clarice Patrimonio, who she repulsed, 6-4, 6-4, to clinch the crown in last year’s staging of the annual tournament put up by Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala headed by president/CEO Bobby Castro.
Meanwhile, 32 bidders kicked off their drive for four remaining spots in the men’s Open singles draw yesterday (Monday) with the likes of Miguel Castillo, Miguel Vicencio, Philippe Coteron, Jude Ceniza, Rafael Liangco, Jet Esteller, Harvey Gilbuena and Pete Coteron tipped to dispute the coveted berths in the two-day elims of the event sponsored by Rep. Jack Duavit, One Cainta, Bgy. San Isidro, Cainta, Rizal, BRAI, Feeds Edition Batangas, RMJ Agricultural, board member Ross Gongora, Allan del Castillo and Dunlop as official ball.
Held simultaneously with the Open qualifiers is the junior play with Loucas Fernandez, Daniel Estanislao III, Pablo Gonzaga and Exequiel Jucutan along with Patricia Lim, Justine Maneja, Amelie Mata and Kryshana Brazal leading the chase in the premier 18-and-under division in the boys and girls’ classes.
Jucutan also banners the cast in the boys’ 16-U side that also drew Joseft Pascua, Lance Fernandez and Jeremiah Macias IV with Jada Custodio joining Maneja, Mata and Brazal in the girls’ category of the Group I tournament sanctioned by the Unified Tennis Philippines made up of PPS-PEPP, Cebuana Lhuillier, Wilson, Toby’s, Dunlop, Slazenger and B-Meg.
Up next in the country’s biggest talent-search is the Valle Verde leg on May 21-25 in Pasig City. Listup is ongoing. For details, call PPS-PEPP Sports Program Development director Bobby Mangunay at 0915-4046464.