Fil-Ams Cecil Mamiit and Eric Taino sustained their fiery charge yesterday, and assured Team Philippines bronze-medal finishes in the men’s singles and doubles events of the 23rd SEA Games tennis competitions at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
Mamiit blanked LaotianVivong Vongsouthi, 6-0, 6-0, while Taino clobbered Indon Suny Wahy Trijati, 6-1, 6-0, to close in on a highly-possible all-Filipino showdown for the singles gold medal.
The two later teamed up in a 6-2, 6-3 shellacking of the Thai pair of Danai Udomchoke and Weerapat Doakmaiklee to likewise reach the semifinal round of the doubles event.
And Mamiit’s and Taino’s court wizardry seemed to have rubbed off to the other Filipino bets as Denise Dy and Riza Zalameda also advanced to the Final Four in the ladies doubles with a 6-0, 6-0 sweep of the Myanmar pair of Su Wai Phyo and Kyi Mya Zaw.
The Philippines, which won gold in the men’s team event and bronze in the ladies team competition earlier, guaranteed itself of four more bronze medals.
The sure bronzes for Mamiit and Taino in the men’s singles will automatically turn to gold and silver if the two hurdle their semifinal matches today or tomorrow.
The order of play for today wasn’t yet ready at press time.
"I expect both of us to be in the gold medal match in every event we’re in. And it would be good if we face each other in the singles finals," said Taino of his highly projected title match with Mamiit.
"That would really be nice," said Mamiit said.
The third-ranked Taino will be up against the top-seeded Udomchoke while No. 2 Mamiit faces No. 4 Prima Simpatiaji in the semis.
For the record, Felix Barrientos was the last Filipino to win the men’s singles gold medal when the country last hosted the games in 1991.
Udomchoke reached the Final Four with a 6-2, 6-3 win over Vietnam’s Minh Quan Do while Simpatiaji advanced with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over another Vietnam bet Quang Huy Ngo.
In the doubles, the second-seeded Mamiit and Taino gained a crack at the title match versus Indons Simpatiaji and Sunu Wahyu Trijati, who smashed Thepsouvanh and VongSouthi, 6-2, 6-4.
Mamiit and Taino are fancied to beat the Indons for an expected title showdown with the top-seed Thai twin brothers Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana.
The Ratiwatanas go for a finals berth versus Suwandi Suwandi and Bonit Wiryawan who made the semis with a 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 decision over the other Philippine pair of Johnny Arcilla and Patrick John Tierro.