by Kristel Satumbaga
Jeson Patrombon and AJ Lim hope to draw the first blood for the Philippine team when they battle separate Thai rivals today at the start of the Asia Oceania Group II Davis Cup in Nonthburi, Thailand.
Match will be at the outdoor hardcourt of The National Tennis Development Center where the PH Cuppers seek to avenge their previous two tie losses against their Thai foes.
Patrombon first takes center stage at 10 a.m. (11 a.m. in Manila) against Palaphoom Kovapitukted followed by Lim over Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul.
Patrombon, who turned 27 last month, has been competing for the team since 2011 with 10 tie nominations and six of seven singles victories.
Palaphoom, for his part, just joined the Thai squad last year with only three appearances.
Twin wins for Patrombon and Lim will give the PH team the needed edge in this best-of-five tie going to Saturday’s crucial matches pitting a doubles affair between Francis Casey Alcantara and Jurence Mendoza over veteran twins Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana at 12 noon (1 p.m. in Manila).
After the doubles come the reverse singles featuring Patrombon versus Wishaya, and Lim against Palaphoom.
Alcantara, who first played for the squad in 2009, hopes they will come out victorious this time after the PH team bowed to the Thais last year and in 2017 under the old format.
“We need to beat them na this time. It would be sweeter kasi home court nila,” said 27-year-old Alcantara, who is best known for winning the Australian Open Junior doubles title in 2009.
The last time the PH team won over Thailand was in 2013 where Fil-Ams Treat Huey and Ruben Gonzales bannered the squad to prevail, 4-1.
