3 Pinays gain Phinma q'finals

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed Clarice Patrimonio, Tamitha Nguyen and Jurence Zosimo Mendoza hurdled their respective rivals to advance to the quarterfinal round of the Phinma International Junior Tennis Championship at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

Patrimonio trounced Darya Chertnesova of Belarus, 6-4, 6-2; Nguyen won over Astra Sharma of Australia, 7-6, 6-2, and Mendoza dominated Aditcha Ichsand Haris of Indonesia, 6-3, 6-1, to stay in title hunt in the event presented by Phinma Properties and supported by the ITF Grand Slam Development Fund.

Others who cruised to the Last 8 were Week 1 champion Kathinka Von Deichmann of Liechtenstein, Desirae Krawczyk of the US and Tanaporn Thongsing of Thailand.

Marinel Rudas, however, fell by the wayside as she lost to the third-ranked Siyu Qin of China, 4-6, 1-6, while Maika Jae Tanpoco bowed to Nathalia Haniejo of India, 6-1, 5-7, 4-6.

Jasmine Ho also lost to Sanae Ota of Japan.