Mendoza, Canlas move to Olivarez main draw

MANILA, Philippines - Teener Jurence Mendoza and Calvin Canlas bested their respective rivals 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 yesterday.

Mendoza, 17, bucked a shaky 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 32-man main event starting today.

But Mendoza, an Asian Youth Games veteran, will face sixth seed Ivo Klec of Slovakia in the opening round of the weeklong tournament bankrolled by tennis chief and Parañaque City Mayor Edwin Olivarez with Dunlop Balls as chief backer and ABS-CBN as television coveror.

Other Filipinos in the main draw are wild cards Johnny Arcilla, Elbert Anasta, PJ Tierro and Fil-Italian Marc Reyes and former world youth Top 10 Jeson Patrombon, who trounced Andrew Ochotta of Canada, 6-1, 6-3, Monday.

Despite the depth of the competing field, Olivarez said Filipino bets have what it takes to make it through the semifinals, at least.

“I hope our 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.

Patrombon will be the first to see action as he tangles with Yu Cheng Yu of Chinese Taipei at center court followed by former Phl No. 1 Arcilla against Chayanon Kaewsuto of Japan moments after.

Fil-Am Ruben Gonzales, priming up for Davis Cup against Pakistan, is the other Filipino bet in the fold, teaming up with former Southeast Asian Games gold medallist Sonchat Ratiwatana of Thailand in doubles action.

Tierro and Canlas face each other also today, guaranteeing a Filipino player in the second round.

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

Top seed is Benjamin Mitchell of Australia who is No. 246 in the world.