Pinoy bets roll to Phinma semis

MANILA, Philippines - Marian Capadocia and Jurence Mendoza toppled their respective rivals in straight-set fashion as the Filipino bets remained on course for a rare sweep of the Phinma International Juniors Tennis Championships at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

The unranked Capadocia, back in the hunt after stunning top seed Sri Vaishnavi Peddi Reddy of India, 6-1, 6-2, Wednesday, overpowered No. 8 Ma Yi Chi of Taiwan, 6-2, 6-1, to clinch a Final Four berth in the girls’ division against third seed Miki Kobayashi of Japan, who routed No. 5 Plobrung Pliphuech of Thailand, 6-0, 6-0.

“My victory over the top seed gave me confidence and it helped me today (Friday),” said the 17-year-old Capadocia of San Jose, Antique.

Mendoza was just as impressive as Capadocia, smothering sixth ranked Ahmed Deedat Abdul Razak with a superb all-around game en route to a 6-2, 6-1 triumph that lined up the top seeded bet against No. 4 Yusuke Takahashi of Japan for a spot in the boys’ finals.

“I’m more relaxed and more patient in this game,” said Mendoza, priming up for his first grand slam tournament in the Australian Open in January.

Meanwhile, the qualifying sign-in for the Week 2 tournament, set Nov. 27-Dec. 2, will be held today from 4 p.m.-6 p.m. at the Philta office c/o ITF supervisor Wannawit Srirasa of Thailand with the qualifying round slated Nov. 25-26 starting at 9 a.m., also at the RMTC.

Takahashi shook off a first set scare and went on to sweep seventh-ranked Congsup Congcar of Thailand, 7-5, 6-0. He, however, will have his hands full against Mendoza as they slug it out for one of the final berths in the ranking tournament sponsored by Technifibre (official ball), Viva (official mineral water) and Powerade (official energy drink).

Alberto Lim also stayed on collision course with Mendoza as the 13-year-old mainstay of the Philippine Tennis Academy thwarted Shoma Kato of Japan, 6-1, 7-5, in the lower half of the draw.

Lim tangles with Aussie Daniel Nolan, who repulsed Shoki Kasahara of Japan, 7-5, 7-6(2).

Also advancing to the girls’ semis were No. 7 Tamachan Momkoonthod of Thailand, who smashed Gabriella Taylor of Great Britain, 6-4, 6-1, and Gabriella Umoquit of the US, who waylaid Japanese qualifier Lisa Marie Rioux, 6-2, 6-1.