by Kristel Satumbaga
Jeson Patrombon and AJ Lim bowed to separate rivals on Friday as the Philippine Davis Cup team trail Thailand, 2-0, in their Asia Oceania Zone Group II tie at The National Tennis Development Center in Nonthaburi, Thailand.
Patrombon was the first to fall, 6-3, 2-6, 6-4, over Palaphoom Kovapitukted in the first singles before Lim followed suit with a 6-4, 7-6 (4) loss to Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul.
Palaphoom, 19, showed his strength in his second serves while breaking Patrombon’s serve three times.
Wishaya, for his part, banked on his sharp serves by firing 11 aces in defeating Lim in one hour and 20 minutes.
The back-to-back defeats put Saturday’s doubles match a must-win for the Filipino Cuppers to stay alive in the best-of-five affair.
Francis Casey Alcantara, who was best known to win an Australian Open Junior doubles crown in 2009, teams up with Jurence Mendoza in facing veteran twins Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana at 12 noon (1 p.m. in Manila).
The PH team must also win the reverse singles match featuring Patrombon versus Wishaya, and Lim against Palaphoom to clinch the tie victory.
The PH team seeks a tie win to strengthen its standing in Group II.