Khim Iglupas put on another solid game to put away Clarice Patrimonio, 6-3, 6-3, and capture the ladies Open singles crown of the Olivarez Cup Tennis Championship for the third straight time at the Olivarez Sports Center in Sucat, Parañaque late Saturday.
The Iligan City-based ace outplayed Patrimonio with her superb baseline game, breaking her second-seeded rival once in each set while holding serve all throughout to fashion out the victory and complete a first-ever three-peat feat in the annual event sponsored by Palawan Pawnshop and backed by Milestone Guaranty and Assurance Corp. and Slazenger as official ball.
On her way to the finals, the Philippine Tennis Academy mainstay hacked out a 6-7(8), 7-5, 6-3, semis upset over top seed Marian Capadocia, whom she also upended in last year’s finale of the annual event put up by Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez along with Rep. Eric Olivarez and Dr. Pablo Olivarez.
Iglupas’ triumph foiled Patrimonio’s bid for a sweep after she and sister Christine took the ladies doubles diadem with a 6-3, 6-0 romp over top seed Shaira Rivera and Marinel Rudas.
Meanwhile, Johnny Arcilla and Patrick John Tierro pulled off a tough 3-6, 6-3, 11-9 victory over last year’s men’s singles champion Francis Casey Alcantara and Bryan Otico to pocket the doubles crown.
Arcilla and Tierro are also disputing the singles title at presstime.