Mendoza, Canlas advance in Olivares netfest

MANILA, Philippines – Teener Jurence Mendoza and Calvin Canlas bested their respective foes to join six other Filipinos in the main draw of the $15,000 Olivarez-Cup-Philippine International Men's Tennis Championship at the Rizal Tennis Center Tuesday.

Mendoza, 17, bucked a faulty start and outlasted Hong Kong's Andrew Yin Hei Lei, 2-6, 6-4, 6-3, while Canlas downed countryman Eric Olivarez, Jr., 6-4, 6-3, to advance to the singles division in the 32-man main event starting Wednesday.

There, Mendoza, an Asian Youth Games veteran, will tackle sixth seed Ivo Klec of Slovakia where he hopes to defy the odds by upsetting his older, higher-ranked foe in this weeklong tournament bankrolled by tennis chief Edwin Olivarez with Dunlop Balls as its backer and ABS-CBN as television coveror.

Other Filipinos carrying the fight for the host country are wild cards Johnny Arcilla, Elbert Anasta, PJ Tierro and Fil-Italian Marc Reyes and former world youth Top 10 Jeson Patrombon, who also made it through the qualifiers after trouncing Andrew Ochotta of Canada (6-1, 6-3) Monday.

Olivarez said he's optimistic a Filipino could end up barging into the semifinals at the minimum, although he admitted that field is very tough.

"I hope out countrymen will come out to support our players because this is very important tournament and we have a strong chance to win here," said Olivarez, who has relived the tournament that was once an annual local staple before it was scrapped 18 years ago due to budgetary constraints.

Patrombon will be the first in the grill as he tangles with Yu Cheng Yu of Chinese Taipei on centercourt followed by former Phl No. 1 Arcilla against Chayanon Kaewsuto of Japan moments after.

Fil-Am Ruben Gonzales, who and Treat Huey will spearhead the country's team when it clashes with Pakistan from April 4 to 6 at the Phl Columbian Association's clay courts in Manila, is the other Filipino entry as he has teamed up with former Southeast Asian Games gold medalist Sonchat Ratiwatana of Thailand in doubles action.

Tierro and Canalas face each other also Wednesday, ensuring that at least a Filipino will get through the second round.

Reyes takes on second seed Ti Chen of Chinese Taipei while Anasta squares off with Punn Bodhidatta of Thailand.

The top seed is Benjamin Mitchell of Australia, who is No. 246 in the world.