Mamiit, Taino cop RP’s first gold in six years

The dry spell is over for Philippine tennis.

Team Philippines won its first SEA Games tennis gold medal in six years as it rode high on the exploits of Fil-Am ATP campaigners Cecil Mamiit and Eric Taino to dethrone Indonesia in the men’s team event before a noisy hometown crowd at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

The Filipino fans cheered, sang and danced as Mamiit and Taino clobbered Indon rivals Prima Simpatiaji and Suwandi Suwandi in their respective singles matches, giving the country its first gold medal in the biennial games since Maricris Fernandez bagged the women’s singles crown in Brunei in 1999.

The Philippines settled for a 2-1 win as its doubles tandem of Johnny Arcilla and Patrick John Tierro bowed to Bonit Wiryawan and Suni Trijati, 3-6, 6-7 (4-7).

Just like Sunday against Thailand, Taino delivered the first point for the Philippines with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 win over Suwandi, a veteran SEA Games campaigner who was part of the men’s team champion in Vietnam in 2003.

With First Gentlemen Mike Arroyo already part of the cheering crowd, Mamiit pulled the coup de grace with a 6-1, 6-2 rout of Simpatiaji.

Pumped up by the Filipino fans singing "Ole! Ole! Ole!," Mamiit went all over his hapless Indon rival and danced with the crowd after completing his 63-minute victory.

Mamiit was later joined by teammates Taino, Johnny Arcilla and Patrick John Tierro on the court, carrying a huge Philippine flag together as they drew thunderous applause from the spectators, including the First Gentleman Mike Arroyo, and Philippine IOC representative Frank Elizalde.

It’s the first ever tennis team championship for the Philippines in the games.

Philippine tennis president Manuel Misa said it’s a good start that spoke well of their bid to match or surpass their three-gold haul when the games was last held in the country in 19991.

"Winning three golds is a realistic gold. A fourth gold would be a big bonus," said Misa.

Mamiit and Taino are also favored to win the singles and doubles matches beginning today. Dark horse is the Taino-Riza Zalameda tandem in mixed doubles.

"We’re favorites in the medal round of any event.

Chances are great," said Mamiit of their chance to nail more gold medals.

"This is a good start for me. Having won this, I hope to get my game going and go on to become a better player as things go on," said Mamiit.

However, Mamiit and Taino may find a tough rival for the singles gold medal in Thai top bet Danai Udomchoke, world No. 129 player who arrived in the country yesterday afternoon.

What the Indons missed in the men’s team championship, they won in the distaff side as Romana Tedjakusuma and Wynne Prakusha swept their singles matches against their Thai rivals.

The Philippines settled for the bronze.