Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 26) — Filipina netter Clarice Patrimonio bagged on Saturday the silver medal at the women’s tennis singles finals of the 29th Southeast Asian Games in Malaysia.
Thai top seed Luksika Kumkhum outclassed Patrimonio, 6-0, 6-1, to capture the gold.
After a two-hour delay caused by rain, Kumkhum, once ranked No. 85 in the world, needed only 48 minutes to beat the jittery 23-year-old on the center court of the National Tennis Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
“Medyo ninerbiyos po ako sa dami ng tao, pero masaya na rin dahil naka-silver,” said Patrimonio, daughter of former PBA star Alvin Patrimonio. “I will try to do better in the 2019 SEA Games.”
[Translation: I felt quite nervous because of all the people. But I’m happy because I got a silver medal.]
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Patrimonio advanced to the finals after vanquishing Cambodian fourth seed Andrea Ka, 7-6 (6-5), 7-6 (6-5), in the semifinals on Friday.
It was her first individual silver medal in three SEA Games outings after sharing the women’s team silver in the 2015 Singapore SEA Games.
“You have to hand it to Clarice, she played well the whole week, but the Thai was just too strong,” noted coach Cris Cuarto.
