THE top draws sealed a riveting clash of talents in the PPS-PEPP Olivarez Cup Open as Jeson Patrombon, Jed Olivarez, Jr. Johnny Arcilla and Vicente Anasta dispatched their rivals to move to the semifinals at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat yesterday.
The top seeded Patrombon overpowered Rolando Ruel Jr., 6-1, 6-3; No. 2 Olivarez stopped unranked Eurydice Gaspar 7-5, 6-2; third-ranked Arcilla scored a 6-4, 1-0 (ret.) win over Josshua Kinaadman; and No. 4 Anasta crushed Mark Alcoseba, 6-1, 6-2.
Patrombon and many-time national teammate Arcilla dispute the first finals berth at 9 a.m. today while Olivarez and Anasta clash for the other championship slot in the event marking the restart of the sport after a two-year hiatus due to pandemic.
Patrombon earlier repulsed qualifier Jarell Edangga 6-2, 7-6(7), and Kristianjoy Tesorio 6-1, 6-1; while Arcilla eased past wild card Axi Gonzaga 6-3, 6-2; and Raymund Diaz 6-4, 6-3 in the upper half of the 32-player draw.
Olivarez whipped Joel Atienza 6-2, 6-0 and clobbered Stefano Gurria 6-0, 6-0; while Anasta posted a 6-3, 4-2(ret.) win over Russell Arcilla, Jr. then routed Heinz Carbonilla 6-1, 6-3 as they fueled their respective drives for the top purse of P30,000 in the event put up by the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala and backed by Dunlop, Rep, Eric Olivarez and Olivarez Sports Center.
