A last-minute switch in lineup proved decisive for the Philippines as Johnny Arcilla teamed up with Michael Misa to power the hosts to a 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, 7-6 (7-5) win over the Iranian duo of Ramin Raziani and Seyed Akbar Teheri Rahaghi and a 2-1 lead in their Asia-Oceania Zone II Davis Cup relegation tie at the PCA indoor courts in Paco.
"I decided to put in Johnny (Arcilla) because he played well yesterday (Friday) and it was a quick three-set win. Had it gone for four or five sets, I would have kept Rolando Ruel, Jr. in the doubles," said RP team coach Martin Misa, who decided to field in the 20-year-old Arcilla 30 minutes before the crucial doubles contest.
The victory gave the Philippines, which split the singles matches Friday, two chances at clinching the best-of-five matches tie which demotes the loser to Group III next year.
With Misa providing the experience and Arcilla the exuberance of youth, the Filipinos roared to a 6-3 win in the first set, steeled themselves after losing the second and boomed with their groundstrokes in the fourth set tiebreak to claim the doubles match in two hours, 30 minutes.
"We have been practicing the doubles ever since because this is the most crucial phase of the tie," non-playing captain Martin Misa said.
Arcilla takes the first crack at giving the Philippines the third point at 10 a.m. today when he battles Raziani in the first reverse singles. The second match pits either Rolando Ruel Jr. or Adelo Abadia against Rahaghi or Mohammadreza Tavakoli.