Patrimonio, Orteza pull off reversals in Olivarez Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Katrina Orteza and Christine Patrimonio took different routes but produced the same results, upending their respective seeded rivals to crash into the quarterfinal round of the ladies singles in the Olivarez Cup Open Tennis Championship presented by Palawan Pawnshop last Tuesday.

Orteza, the 17-year-old bet from La Salle, mastered fifth seed Hannah Espinosa and came away with a lopsided 6-0, 6-2 romp while Patrimonio, a mainstay of National University, recovered from a second set setback to oust No. 8 Jzash Canja in a thrilling three-setter, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4.

But the duo will have to show more of the same when they gun for the semifinal berths against No. 4 Alyssa Labay and second seed Edilyn Balanga, respectively, in today’s Last 8 phase of the week-long event held in honor of Philta president and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez and presented by Palawan Pawnshop.

Labay trounced Jenelyn Magpayo, 6-2, 6-1, to seal a quarters duel with Orteza while Balanga dominated Joanna Tan, 6-1, 6-1, to arrange a clash with Patrimonio.

Top seed Clarice Patrimonio, meanwhile, rolled into the quarters with a 6-2, 6-0 rout of Ma. Angela Sunga. She will next face sixth ranked Maika Tanpoco, who subdued Akiko De Guzman, 6-1, 6-0.

Maia Balce, who bundled out third seed Aileen Rogan in the first round, continued her surge, beating Junnelyn Polito, 6-2, 6-2, to set up a Last 8 collision with seventh ranked Macy Gonzales, who saw off Jade Capadocia, 6-0, 6-1.

Meanwhile, the Patrimonio sisters were playing Tracy Bautista and Rina Caniza at presstime for a berth in the semifinal round of the ladies doubles event of the tournament sanctioned by Philta and backed by Dunlop as official ball.

Others who advanced were Capadocia and Patricia Paez, Shanine Olivarez and Krizelle Sampaton, Canja and Espinosa, Balanga and Labay, Ana Bienes and Goldie Nagret and Balce and Rogan.