The Patrimonios: Ruling Their Own Court

MANILA, Philippines - It all started in the summer of 2001 when Christine, then barely 11, and Clarice, who was nine, were enrolled in a tennis camp at the Valle Verde Sports Club in Pasig City.

That led to much bigger things, as the two sisters got so hooked on the sport, they are now poised to become the future stars of Philippine women’s tennis.

Christine and Clarice, now 17 and 15, happen to be the daughters of former basketball superstar Alvin Patrimonio. Last week, under the blazing sun, Christine and Clarice were hitting balls at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center while their proud father talked to STARweek about their passion for tennis.

“It started in 2001when I enrolled them in a camp. It didn’t take long for me and my wife Cindy to notice that they loved the game, and loved what they were doing,” shares Alvin.

“So we started hiring coaches, and soon enough I couldn’t beat them. Playing with them now makes me look like a comic player,” says Alvin as he watched from the sidelines.

What used to be weekends on the court is now an everyday thing. And the Patrimonios have even put in a tennis court at home.

Christine and Clarice are so into the sport that their parents sent them to a two-and-a-half-year tennis course in Valencia, Spain starting in May of 2006. They have just returned home.

And early indications are that the training – and their dedication – is paying big dividends.

Two weeks ago, Christine won her first title – the Metro Open ladies crown at the RMTC, while Clarice is all set to play in the Fed Cup Juniors in Australia next month.

Although Christine developed faster, being the older one, Clarice, according to her dad, continues to show great potential even if she gets frustrated more often than needed.

“She hits the ball well but Clarice is a perfectionist so she gets frustrated. But I keep telling them to just enjoy the game and have fun because that’s the problem with young athletes who get bored and quit.

“I keep reminding them that it’s just the sport and themselves. But I can see the dedication in them, their attitude and their willingness to train under the sun. It’s not easy,” says Alvin.

He knows whereof he speaks, because that was the way he started out, too, on the road to becoming one of the great basketball players in the country – days under the sun, practicing endlessly, playing basketball all day long.

“They must never give up and learn to mature. And as parents, we want them to succeed. They both want to be part of the Philippine team, which was also what I did. So it’s the same goal,” Alvin says.

Top-level sports training, however, doesn’t come cheap.

“The problem is lack of exposure. And of course the expenses – coaches, hitting partners, equipment, tournament fees, travel expenses, conditioning program, nutrition and vitamins,” he explains.

The trip to Spain alone, Alvin adds, was quite costly since the sisters, currently enrolled in a home study program with the School of Tomorrow, had to rent a place while they studied and trained.

“It’s a big sacrifice. There’s an individual, a friend, who helped, but someday we hope that as my kids get better, people will start helping us,” says the four-time Philippine Basketball Assocition (PBA) MVP (Most Valuable Player). The Patrimonios have a son, Angelo, 19, who is building a career in television.

Christine is eyeing a slot in the Philippine team for the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Laos in December, and that’s why she’s been working even harder under her personal coach, Rocky Paglaluan.

“That’s the goal,” says the third-year high school student who’s got the looks to become the poster girl of Philippine tennis.

Being the daughter of a PBA superstar and one of the most recognizable people in the land only adds to the pressure.

But, she says, “You have to deal with it. You have to get used to it. Like when we go out it’s still my dad who gets the attention from the people. But to us, he doesn’t portray himself as a superstar but an ordinary dad.

“Somehow that helps ease the pressure. And he’s always there to remind us never to give up and do your best. He keeps on telling us, ‘Don’t play for anyone else but for God and yourself,’” says Christine.

Clarice, the shy one, nods in approval.

“He always tries to give us some space because too much tennis is not good either,” says Clarice, who has Maria Sharapova as her idol, while Christine looks up to Ana Ivanovic and Serena Williams.

They’ve learned to sacrifice for the love of their sport.

“If we’re not studying at home or out with the family, we’re at the tennis court. And that means less friends, less parties, and no…” says Christine with a smile.

They may have to miss out on some things, but for now, happiness for Christine and Clarice is simply being on the tennis court.