Patrombon seals Phl Cuppers' 5-0 sweep of Pacific Oceania

IRIGA CITY, Camarines Sur, Philippines – Jeson Patrombon, the future in Philippine tennis, has arrived.

Patrombon, the host team’s youngest member at 18 years old but owns the highest world singles rankings at No. 874, made shortwork of Pacific Oceania’s Aymeric Mara, 6-0, 6-1, yesterday to sweep his singles matches in their Asia Oceania Zone Group II Davis Cup tie at the University of St. Anthony Forum here.

With the tie already secured following a 6-7 (3), 7-5, 7-6 (3), 7-6 (4) win by Johnny Arcilla and Ruben Gonzales over Cyrile Jacobe and Fil-Guamanian Daniel Llarenas Saturday, Patrombon didn’t soften up and quickly and mercilessly disposed of the taller Mara, who is five months younger than the Filipino, in just 55 minutes.

“I was inspired by my win in the opening singles, it was really special because it’s my biggest win so far,” said Patrombon in Filipino referring to his 6-3, 6-2, 7-6 (4) victory over Jacobe Friday.

The win was Patrombon’s third since he stunned world-ranked Jimmy Wang, 1-6, 6-4, 6-3, in a 1-4 setback to Chinese Taipei in their Group I relegation tie in Lapu Lapu City last September and then Jacobe here.

The former World Junior No. 9’s only loss came at the hands of Marcus Daniell, 6-4, 3-6, 3-6, in the Filipinos’ 0-5 drubbing to the New Zealanders in Hawera, New Zealand in June also last year.

And expect more to come from the small but big-hearted Patrombon as the Phl takes on the winner in the match in the Pakistan-Lebanon tie in Jounieh, Lebanon April 6-8 at a still unspecified venue.

“He has worked hard to be where he is right now and if he continues to work and play harder, he’ll get stronger,” said Fil-Am Cecil Mamiit, the Filipinos’ non-playing team captain, of the Iligan City native.

Fil-Am Treat Huey, who sat out in the doubles match although he is currently ranked 47th in the world doubles rankings, won the second opening singles match with a clinical 6-0, 6-3, 6-2 bashing of Pacific Oceania No. 1 Michael Leong.

Knowing it’s already a lost cause, Pacific Oceania’s non-playing skipper Cyrille Mainguy opted to pit an inexperienced Mara against Patrombon for Leong, the only ranked player in their fold at No. 1782.

And the inexperience by Mara, a 6-1 Vanuatu netter who hasn’t played a single Davis Cup match before this one, showed as the Filipino netter, who will turn 19 on March 27, dominated him from the onset.

In the other non-bearing reverse singles match, Johnny Arcilla dumped a tired and weary Cyril Jacobe, 6-2, 6-1, to complete a 5-0 sweep, the first time the Phl accomplished the feat since blanking Kuwait 12 years back.

Davis Cup notes: Inclement weather forced both the Phl and Pacific Oceania teams to take a big bus back in Manila last night anticipating that their morning flights will be cancelled. “We don’t want to take the risk because flights were cancelled today (yesterday),” said Phl team coach Chris Cuarto...To ensure the security of both squads, host Mayor Madel Alfelor Gazmen provided a security escort...Because of the cancelled flights in Naga and Legazpi City yesterday, some celebrities who attended the parade and street-dancing the annual Tinagba Festival of Iriga City is known for were stranded in this quaint but beautiful place.