RP netters hang tough in doubles

The Philippines gallantly fought back from two sets down to force a tie with Indonesia in their doubles match yesterday as Johnny Arcilla and Adelo Abadia lived for another day when their Asia Oceania Zone Group II Davis Cup tie was called off due to poor lighting at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Arcilla and Abadia literally rose from the grave in the third set and hung tough in the next to force a fifth and deciding set against the tandem of Susilo Pramono and Hendri Kusdaryanto set at 10:30 a.m. today.

The score read, 4-6, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5, when play was stopped with Arcilla and Abadia hoping to sustain the momentum of their comeback and keep the hosts' flickering hopes alive here.

The Indons enjoy a commanding 2-0 lead with a sweep of the singles matches Friday and could clinch the tie outright with a victory in the doubles.

With or without a bearing in the tie, the reverse singles will be played after the completion of the doubles.

Tapped in place of original Philippine doubles bets Pop Sabandon and Rolando Ruel Jr., Arcilla and Abadia proved up to the task as they held their grounds against Pramono and Kusdaryanto in the match which was dragged for hours by rains.

Coach Martin Misa believed they could go all the way to complete a come-from-behind win in the doubles, if not for the postponement.

"The momentum was already on our side and it's unfortunate that we have to stop the game. Now, we must pray Johnny and Adelo will keep their game going tomorrow (today)," said Misa.

Shaking off a tentative start, Arcilla and Abadia dodged a killer-blow by the Indons in the third set and stayed alive by pouring it all in the fourth.

In an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation in the third set, the Filipino pair didn't blink, foiling the Indons with superb shots from the baseline before putting the pressure on the Indons in the fourth by attacking the net.

"This only shows that the boys can play this good despite their inexperience. Hopefully, we can sustain the momentum tomorrow (today) and from that, let's just pray in the remaining singles matches," said Misa.

"Kahit papaano malakas na ang loob namin ngayon. Lalaban kami ng patayan bukas," said Arcilla, the Philippines' top bet who dropped the opening singles to Indon rival Suwandi Suwandi Friday. -