Davis Cup: PH Cuppers go 2-0 up on Oceania rivals

Jeson Patrombon of RP wins his first match in the Davis Cup tie. Photo by August dela Cruz

IRIGA CITY—Jeson Patrombon came out firing from all angles and managed to control his jitters as the match wore on to complete a 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4) dismantling of Cyril Jacobe of Pacific Oceania, helping the Cebuana Lhuillier-Philippines team to a 2-0 lead in their Davis Cup Group 2 encounter Friday at the USANT Forum here.

Later in the day, Treat Huey totally outclassed top player Michael Leong, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2.

Johnny Arcilla and Ruben Gonzales are scheduled to play in Saturday’s doubles against the pair of Jacobe and Daniel Llarenas, who lives in Guam but traces his roots to Pangasinan. But the PH coaching staff just might crank up the winning chances by fielding Huey, the No. 47 in the world in doubles.

It only took Huey one hour and 45 minutes to score the victory, which he prolonged a bit by throwing away four match points.

Patrombon, meanwhile, clenched his fists and let out a primal yell of relief after pounding a smash for match point to the delight of the adoring crowd that filled the indoor arena.

“Thank you for coming out today and for the support,” said the world No. 874, who was playing his first bearing match for PH Davis Cup team. “I really want to win and I don’t want to disappoint my countrymen.”

The 18-year-old took the task of kicking off the country’s campaign with fire in his belly, wowing the crowd with leaping forehands and winners on the run in the first two sets against the player from Vanuatu, who is 10 years his senior.

But he visibly slowed down in the third set, committing wild returns to allow Jacobe to gain some footing. And with momentum of the first two sets fizzling out, Patrombon allowed himself to get dragged to a tiebreak.

“I wasn’t focusing in the third because I was thinking ‘this is it, I am winning this match,’” said Patrombon in Filipino.