Johnny Arcilla and Ruben Gonzales of the PHL after winning their match off Cyril Jacobe and Danielle Llarenas of the Pacific Oceana. Photo by August dela Cruz
IRIGA CITY—Jeson Patrombon and Johnny Arcilla made quick work of their rivals in the reverse singles as the Philippines completed a 5-0 shutout of Pacific Oceania in their Asia-Oceania Davis Cup Group 2 tie Sunday at the USANT Forum here.
Patrombon displayed top form in thrashing Aymeric Mara, 6-0, 6-1, in 55 minutes while Arcilla ripped Cyril Jacobe, 6-2, 6-1 to give the Filipinos their first Davis Cup sweep since 2007, when they demolished Kuwait in the final round of Group 2.
The Cebuana Lhuillier-Philippines squad clinched the tie Saturday night after the tandem of Arcilla and Ruben Gonzales downed the hard-fighting pair of Daniel Llarenas and Cyril Jacobe, 6-7 (7-3), 7-5, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (7-4) for an unbeatable 3-0 lead.
Nonplaying captain Cecil Mamiit said he was not afraid of using four players and gambling on 32-year-old Arcilla even though Treat Huey, the world No. 47 in doubles, was there.
“This is a good statement for the team,” said Mamiit. “It was more remarkable pulling off that (doubles) win. We love drama and that doubles match created drama.”
The doubles match lasted four hours as both teams refused to fold, especially Arcilla, who literally asked to be fielded in. On Saturday the six-time PCA Open champion proved his mettle as he and Gonzales raced from 2-4 down in the fourth-set tiebreak to prevail.
Playing without pressure, Patrombon, who was picked as the No. 1 player for the host, fired sharp winners that wowed the gallery and dismantled Mara, the 18-year-old Cup novice from Vanuatu, for his second win.
“I feel very honored to play for the Philippines and I’m very happy to help win the tie,” said Patrombon in Filipino. Ranked 874th in the world, Jeson plays abroad for most of the year in a bid to get into the Top 500.
Patrombon launched the country’s campaign last Friday with a stunning win over Jacobe, 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (7-4), before Huey crushed Leong, 6-0, 6-3, 6-2, to give the host a 2-0 cushion.
The Philippines, which fell to Group 2 after playing in Group 1 the past two years, is looking at a home tie on April 6 to 8 against the winner of the Lebanon-Pakistan duel, which was even at 1-1 at presstime.
Meanwhile, bad weather forced the players to take a midnight bus back to Manila Sunday night in anticipation of canceled flights.
Huey, Gonzales and Patrombon are scheduled to compete in tournaments abroad.