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Christine Patrimonio stamped her class as one of the leading women and junior girls in the Philippines when she won the first leg of the Mariposa Foundation Invitational Series at the Manila Polo Club . Christine, daughter of PBA all-time great Alvin Patrimonio dominated Junior player Marinel Rudas, (who was a substitute semi-finalist) 6-3, 6-0 in the final of this uniquely formatted tournament that serves as the final tune-up for the girls as they embark on the 4th quarter ITF Junior and Women’s Tournaments starting Sept 17 in Xiamen China. Coach Karl Santamaria reported there were several exciting matches on opening day with Patrimonio having a touch match before overcoming gutsy Marinel Rudas 6-4 6-4 while younger sister Clarice also opened up with a close 6-4, 2-6, 10-6 victory against upcoming junior Marian Capadocia. Top college players Bambi Zoleta and Michelle Pang also won their opening matches against one of the top junior players Louise Lopez from Brent 7-5, 6-1 and Tamitha Nguyen 6-2, 6-0 respectively. During second round of group play (which was played later on that night), Michelle Pang secured her second victory with another tight 6-4 7-5 win over Capadocia while Christine made short work of Louise Lopez 6-3 6-3. The upset of the day came from Tamitha Nguyen, who beat cramp-stricken Clarice Patrimonio 6-4 6-2. Bambi Zoleta also won against Marinel Rudas 4-6 6-4 10-8. Needing a win to keep her hopes alive for a semi-final slot, Clarice demolished the previously unbeaten Pang 6-1 6-0, and Christine also had a straight sets win against Bambi Zoleta to secure a semis slot. Nguyen meanwhile solidified her claim for a semis slot with a tight 7-5 7-6 win over Capadocia, and Rudas won a thrilling 6-3 4-6 11-9 victory over Lopez. In the Red Group, Pang, Nguyen and Clarice were tied with identical 2-1 win-loss records. The tie was broken using the quotient system using the scores of their group matches, and Pang ended up #1, with Nguyen barely edging out Clarice for the last semis ticket in their group. The White Group had Christine as the #1 with a 3-0 record, and Zoleta finishing second with a 2-1 record. But an important exam that she could not pass up on prevented Bambi from playing her semis match. Rudas, with a 1-2 record was a last minute replacement, and she made the most of it with a stunning upset of Pang 3-6, 6-3, 11-9 to book the firs finals seat. But the match of the tournament belonged to Christine Patrimonio and Tamitha Nguyen, who battled for more than two-and-a-half hours and playing high-quality tennis, with Christine playing catch-up throughout the match and banking on sheer guts and savvy play to hack out a 3-6, 6-4, 11-9 victory. |
Mr. Oscar Hilado of Mariposa Foundation was on hand to witness the matches from Friday to Sunday, and was present in awarding the prizes to the girls. Other supporters of this event were First Life Insurance and I-touch point.
The 2nd Leg, which will feature junior girls against the top 14-and under junior boys, will start tomorrow also at the Manila Polo Club Hard courts at 9:00am. The junior girls composed of Clarice Patrimonio, Tamitha Nguyen, Marinel Rudas, and Marian Capadocia will pit their skills against Jurence Mendoza, Betto Orendain, Kyle Parpan and Manila Polo Club’s Joachim Samson
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