Balce foils Patrimonio Sister Act in PCA Open Finals

MANILA, Philippines -- Top seed Clarice Patrimonio overcame a second set challenge put up by an unheralded Edilyn Balanga, 6-2, 7-6(5), Saturday to get another title crack in the  34th Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open-Cebuana Lhuillier Wildcard Event at the PCA’s Plaza Dilao clay courts in Paco, Manila.

Patrimonio, 21, fought her way back from a 2-5 hole in the second set as she bedazzled Balanga with superb shotmaking and forced a tiebreaker where she outplayed the latter to seal the win in this annual event backed by Cebuana Lhuillier, Puma, Dunlop and The Philippine STAR.

The win marked the third time Patrimonio had advanced to the championship round after making it that far on two occasions, in 2011 and 2013 when he eventually lost to four-time champion Marian Jade Capadocia, the last game ending in a heartbreaking 1-6, 7-5, 4-6 defeat.

And this could be the year Patrimonio's title drought ends.

"I hope so," said the shy Patrimonio, the reigning UAAP MVP who is taking up Hotel and Restaurant Management student at National U.

Teenage sensation Maia Balce emerged the biggest stumbling block to Patrimonio's title bid after the former spoiled an all-Patrimonio finale by eliminating the latter's elder sister, Christine, with a pulsating 7-6 (4), 6-3 triumph in this event supported by Whilpool/Fujidenzo, Broadway Motor Sales Corp. Coca-Cola Femsa Philippines, Tyrecorp Incorporated, Pearl Garden Hotel, Metro Global Holdings Corporation, Avida, PVL Restaurant, Mary Grace Foods, Inc., Seno Hardware and Wire Rope Corporation.

The fourth-seeded Balce, 17, outlasted No. 7 Patrimonio, a former two-time runner-up in this annual tournament considered as the Grand Slam of Phl tennis, in the opening set tiebreaker and then watched the 23-year-old 2013 UAAP MVP self-destruct to turn 1-3 deficit in the second set into a win.

"I was also a little frustrated but I didn't show it. I was also patient especially in the second set when I was trailing," said Balce, a fourth year high school student at St. Paul in Pasig City, in Filipino.

While the Patrimonios have been campaigning in this annual meet for years, this will be Balce's first and has already barged to the finals.

"I was entered when I was 13 years old but I didn't show up because I chose to play in a juniors event instead," said Balce.

The Patrimonio-Balce finals is set at 11 a.m.

Two hours later, it will be defending men's champion PJ Tierro and youthful AJ Lim who will take the court.

Lim brought down eight-time winner Johnny Arcilla, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1, while Tierro made it to the finals sweat-free after Elbert Anasta forfeited his game to play for Army in another tournament on the same day.