Clarice reaches final but elder sis falls

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed Clarice Patrimonio overcame a second set challenge put up by an unheralded Edilyn Balanga, 6-2, 7-6(5), yesterday 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 outshot Balanga with superb  shots 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 she 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 ends her title drought.

“I hope so,” said the shy Patrimonio, the reigning UAAP MVP who is taking up hotel and restaurant management 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.

The fourth-seeded Balce, 17, outlasted No. 7 Patrimonio, a former two-time runner-up in this annual tournament, 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.