RP netters settle for team bronze

NAKHON RATCHASIMA  – The Philippines settled for the bronze in men’s and women’s competitions after bowing to Thailand and Indonesia, respectively, in the semifinal round of the Southeast Asian Games lawn tennis competitions yesterday at the Main Stadium tennis center here.

Romana Tejakusuma upended Dianne Matias, 6-3, 6-0, while Sandy Gumulya crushed Czarina Mae Arevalo, 6-3, 6-3, giving Indonesia a 2-0 victory and rendering inconsequential the third match, also won by Indonesia.

Indonesia advanced to the gold medal round against Thailand, which also won all three matches over Malaysia in the semifinals.

The Philippines and Malaysia shared the bronze medal.

Thailand also threw the RP men’s team out of the gold medal round with a 6-4, 6-2 win in the deciding third match, the men’s doubles, of their semifinal showdown yesterday at center court.

Freedrick Taino outclassed Thai Weerapat Doakmaiklee, 6-1, 6-4, but Thailand’s Danai Udomchoke leveled the match at 1-1 by upstaging Fil-American and two time tormentor Cecil Mamiit, 6-4, 6-4, in the second singles.

Sonchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana swept past Mamiit and Taino, 6-4, 6-2, in the doubles to clinch the final berth for Thailand.