WITH lack of practice and just coming off from a vacation, celebrity tennis players Christine and Clarice Patrimonio as well as other rated netters claimed they just want to have fun when the four-day 3rd Mayor James Gamao Invitational Tennis Tournament unfurls at the Panabo City tennis courts today.
Christine, 27, a former National University (NU) standout, said she’s playing in the netfest, which is co-presented by Merco and Selecta, for the first time. Since she is not familiar with the court, she said during an interview with SunStar Davao at Hotel Elena yesterday, “Mag-adjust lang during the game and enjoy. Mas importante ang mag-enjoy. Ngayon lang ulit ako maglalaro outdoors na sobrang init, sana walang mag-cramps.”
She was also upbeat about their island hopping on Sunday after the competition.
Three-time Uaap MVP awardee and 2017 SEA Games silver medalist Clarice, 25, a fourth year BSHRM student at NU, hopes she could still win the mixed doubles title, which she won in 2012 with Dabawenyo Ralph Kevin Barte in the Mayor Sara Duterte-Carpio edition of the tournament held in Davao City.
“Yun ang exciting part kung sino makakapartner ko. Wala akong training ngayon katatapos lang din ng Uaap. Sana andito parin ang energy, buong effort, syempre pagod din kasi mahaba yung tournament ng Uaap. I-enjoy ko lang,” Clarice said.
Should the two sisters play against each other in the singles event, Christine quickly said, “Hindi kami magkapatid sa loob ng court (laughs). We just enjoy inside the court kahit di sya nagbibigay (laughs).”
Clarice, for her part, countered, “Depende kasi pag crucial, gusto ko ring manalo (smiles).”
Christine is ranked eighth while Clarice is fourth in country’s women’s Unified Tennis Ranking as of January 1, 2019.
No. 2 Khim Iglupas of Iligan City, a Bachelor of Physical Education freshman at the University of the Philippines (UP) Diliman, said she will just play her game. “Wala pud koy praktis bag-o lang nahuman ang Uaap. Wala ko mag-expect nga mudaug, enjoy lang. Kung unsa ray makaya, mao ra (I am not expecting to win, I just want to enjoy. Whatever I can do, that’s it),” the tournament newbie said.
No. 3 Marian Jade Capadocia of Antique, meanwhile, said being her first time to play here, she expects herself to play well and play safe. The 23-year-old sports management senior added, “Gusto ko lang na maenjoy na makalaro sila.”
Former Sta. Ana National High School athlete Shaira Hope Rivera, 19, who hails from Monkayo, Compostela Valley, admitted she’s not ready for the meet as she recently come from a vacation. Fifth-ranked Rivera of Ateneo de Manila University added, “Sana mabigyan ko sila ng good fight. Hindi ko ibibigay ang free points.”
Allyssa Mae Bornia, Aubrey Calma and Davao City’s Danna Abad complete the eight-player field in the women’s division of the tournament that stakes a total cash prize of P200,000.
Calma said, “This is my first time in this tournament and it’s very challenging to be playing against top players in the Philippines. It’s a great ipportunity kasi for me, not everybody mabigyan ng ganitong chance.”
Bornia hopes the games will be fun and nobody gets injured.
The men’s event features Johnny Arcilla, John Jeric Accion, Leander Lazaro, Fritz Chris Verdad, Mark Anthony Alcoseba, Noel Damian, Jr., John Bryan Otico and John Mari Altiche.