MANILA, Philippines — Jeson Patrombon got back at fellow national player and doubles partner Johnny Arcilla, hacking out a 6-3, 7-5 decision to wrest the men’s singles crown in the PPS-PEPP Gov. Alfonso Umali Cup Tennis Championship at the Bahaghari Tennis Club in Oriental Mindoro last Sunday.
Patrombon, 26, shattered a tight 5-5 count by breaking Arcilla in the 11th game of the second set then overcame a 0-30 deficit in the 12th by taking the next four points to complete the straight-set victory and pocket the top P40,000 purse in the event held in conjunction with the Pinamalayan Festival celebrations.
The top seeded Patrombon and the No. 2 Arcilla lived up to their billing by dominating their rivals from the first round of the 32-player draw with the former romping off with lopsided wins over L.A. Pascua, Marc Suson, Leander Lazaro and Mark Alcoseba and the latter crushing Jonel Paulino, Dawson Ormoc, Rodolfo Barquin and sibling Joseph Arcilla.