Taiwanese drop PH netters to Group 2

LAPU LAPU CITY – Chen Ti wore down Treat Huey, 6-3, 7-6 (2), 6-2, in the first reverse singles Sunday morning as Chinese Taipei booted out the Philippines from Group 1 of the Davis Cup Asia Oceania zone at the Plantation Bay Spa and Resort here.

The victory allowed the Taiwanese to clinch the tie with an unbeatable 3-1 lead before Jeson Patrombon salvaged some pride for the Filipinos by taking the no-bearing last match for the final 3-2 count.

Showing his tremendous promise, the 18-year-old Patrombon shocked world No. 389 Jimmy Wang with a 1-6, 6-4, 6-3 win.

“I know that I’m in better condition because he (Huey) played the last two days while I got a rest yesterday,” said Chen, the highest ranked player in the tie at 293rd.

“It’s basically two players against four from us,” he added, referring to the fact that Huey and team captain Cecil Mamiit played in both singles and doubles while the Taiwanese had  separate campaigners in both events.

Chen, who beat Mamiit in the opening match of the relegation tie Friday, endured some uneasy moments only in the second set when Huey rallied from 2-5 to forge a tiebreak.

But playing three straight days proved too much for Huey, who managed just two points in the tiebreak against the fresh Taiwanese.

“He has a good serve, but I tried to focus on every point because I know I’m in good condition,” said Chen. “I tried to make him run and avoid his backhand volleys.”

“We start next year in Group 2 but the future’s bright for Philippine tennis because the team is young and we’ll be back for sure in Group 1 with Jeson and Ruben (Gonzales) in the team,” said Huey.

“We just didn’t get the breaks but the team gave its best,” said Philippine Tennis Association president Rep. Edwin Olivarez, adding that the plan is to rebuild the national team with young, talented players next year.”

Mamiit also admitted having a shallow bench. He played four hours before losing to Chen then teamed up with Huey the next day in the doubles which Lee Hsin-han and Yi Chu-huan won in five sets to give the Taiwanese a 2-1 lead.

“We need more patience (referring to Ruben Gonzales and Patrombon). I think the young players need to win more Challenger tournaments. But in two years’ time we will have a stronger, complete team, that way the players don’t get beat up,” said Mamiit.

He added that he plans to set up a “herd” of players who will rotate during Davis Cup ties which include Gonzales, Patrombon and another Fil-American Dennis Lajola, who is set to complete for the first time in the coming Southeast Asian Games.

While the Taiwanese remained in Group 1 for the seventh straight year, the Accel-backed Filipinos
dropped in the company of Thailand, Indonesia, Pacific Oceania Pakistan and Hong Kong.