Yu Xin Yuan and Xu Ran, a newly-formed tandem for the Chinese, blew hot and cold against the Filipino pair of Johnny Arcilla and Adelo Abadia in the two-hour victory that relegated today’s reverse singles into a non-bearing affair.
China swept the opening singles the other day with Lu Hao stopping Arcilla in four sets and Yu humbling Joseph Victorino in straight sets. It gave the Chinese all the momentum they needed to hurdle the crucial doubles match.
Regardless of what happens today, China will advance to the semis of the Asia-Oceania Zone Group 2. The Philippines will fall into a relegation match with the loser of the ongoing Kuwait vs Hong Kong tie for the right to stay in Group 2 next year.
Kuwait was enjoying a 2-0 lead against host Hong Kong as of presstime. If Kuwait goes on to win the tie, Hong Kong and the Philippines will square off in Manila in April, most likely after the Holy Week.
In today’s schedule starting 10 a.m., Arcilla will be pitted against Chinese newcomer Li Jingyi while Victorino will test the skills of Lu. It will be a mere workout for all four players on the shell-clay courts of the YSCC.
The Philippines lost to China last year via the same route, dropping the opening singles and the doubles. But the Pinoys had hoped to do better this time since China’s top two players are no longer around. They are competing in Europe while preparing for the Athens Olympics in August.
China’s second stringers, however, still proved too tough for the Filipinos.
"I am disappointed. I really felt we had a very good chance of beating this team," said John Henry Lhuillier, the newly-installed team manager of the RP team.
"I expected to have a 2-1 lead for tomorrow’s game. We’re disappointed, but then again this is a learning experience for me and the team. Hopefully, in the next round we can do a lot better," he added.
The only bright note after yesterday’s loss was that Lhuillier said he will keep his commitment to the team.
"Definitely. My inputs as team manager have yet to be fully utilized," he said in a post-game interview.
The Chinese pair took the first two sets in a breeze as they broke Arcilla’s serve thrice and Abadia’s twice. But they slowed down in the third set, allowing the local boys to give their flag-waving fans something to cheer about.
After trailing, 2-3, Abadia and Arcilla won the next four games, breaking each of their opponents’ serves and holding their own for a 6-3 set.
The Filipinos could have even taken a 3-1 lead in the fourth set but yielded after battling the Chinese in four deuces. The set tied at 2-2, Arcilla had his serve broken a third time, and it was all the Chinese needed to eventually put the game away on a service winner by Xu.