New greats

Youngsters from the Tennis Academy of the Philippines Foundation (TAPF) have made a lot of headway in Europe and Southeast Asia during the Group 1 ITF 16-under European Junior Circuits and the Onejet Indonesian ITF Juniors recently.

Sixteen-year-old Jeson Patrombon, who a year ago was a street kid just using empty liquor bottles to swat tennis balls, is now one of TAPF’s leading scholars. Patrombon won two doubles titles in Italy and finished runner-up in France with his Chinese partner Guan Yu Cao in the third, fourth and fifth legs of the circuit, respectively.

Patrombon is also with the ITF Touring Team and reached as high as the round of 16 in singles in the Lepont des Generations tennis championships in France.

On his way to the round of 16, he upset a player from France, 6-3, 6-2, in the first round, and a player from Italy, 6-3, 6-4, in the second round.

Jeson lost a tough three-set match to the third leg singles champion Rodriguez of Venezuela, 6-7, 6-3, 6-3, in their round of 16 match-up.

The ITF report stated that Jeson has the potential and talent to play the ITF and ATP events in the future, and recommended that once his physical abilities and self-confidence start developing further, he has to play more of the said events. The report also said Jeson technically has everything a player needs to compete and be successful in the ITF and ATP tours.

“He just needs to believe more in himself that he is really good,” said his ITF coach Guillermo Stevens, “Jeson possesses a big forehand, a solid all-around game from the back court and owns very quick footwork which are his main weapons.”

TAPF executive vice-president and managing director, coach Manny Tecson said “This proves that Filipino tennis players are at par with the best in the world at this age bracket, and this positive report coming from the ITF shows that our programs at TAPF where Jeson had his beginnings and is currently undergoing rigid training is definitely being recognized internationally. Jeson was heading nowhere a year ago, and badly needed guidance and support. Now, he has already beaten junior players ranked under 300 and 200 in the world in only his first year of tournament play.”

Tecson, who is best remembered as the Davis Cup captain who led the Philippines to the World Group Davis Cup Qualifying against three-time world champion Sweden more than two decades ago, said the Academy programs established just last year are proving to be a success early on.

Another TAPF scholar who made a big splash in Bandung, Indonesia is Kim Saraza. Saraza reached the round of 16 in the ITF Indonesian Group 4 Championships, defeating the 10th seed from Thailand in the second round before bowing to the eventual champion from China, 6-3, 5-7, 7-6 (11-9). He also made it to the semis in the doubles event with another Filipino Ian Lazaro, but unfortunately, his partner had to default their match as instructed by Lazaro’s coach Karl Santamaria due to flight schedule complications.

Tennis Academy of the Philippines Foundation chairman, Rep. Romeo Jalosjos, said these victories in Europe and Indonesia validated TAPF’s long-term programs to produce world-class Filipino tennis players.

“We’re very proud of the newest achievements by our scholars,” said Jalosjos, who has been a long-time tennis player. “Their success is the success of the country and the whole TAPF organization, whose main objective is to give Filipino tennis players a chance to hone their skills and compete on equal footing against the best in the world.”

Jalosjos built TAPF in Katarungan Village in Alabang, complete with a dormitory, weights room, and swimming pool. The foundation also houses an excellent Japanese restaurant, and will soon have four tennis courts on an adjacent property. Players from at least five other countries have already requested to be trained at TAPF after having seen the performance of its scholars.