Pinoys gain quarters in Thai netfest

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines’ Jeson Patrombon and Francis Casey Alcantara pulled off contrasting results yesterday to barge into the quarterfinals of the Grade 1 ITF/LTAT Junior Tennis Championships in Nonthaburi, Thailand.

Patrombon, 17, shocked third seed Dominic Thiem of Austria, 6-4, 6-3, in a big follow-up to his upset win over 16th pick Campbell Johnson of the United States the other day.

The fourth ranked Alcantara, on the other hand, needed an extra set to turn back qualifier James Duckworth of Australia, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, and join Patrombon in the Last 8.

With the victory, Patrombon has already performed beyond expectations after a mere first round finish here last year while matching his quarterfinal finish in the Grade A Mayor’s Cup in Japan in October last year.

But he will have his hands full against Andrew Whittington as he bids for a spot in the semifinal round.

Whittington also pulled the rug from under No. 5 Ben McLachlan of New Zealand, 7-5, 6-0.

Alcantara, meanwhile, will take on No. 9 Jeong Suk Young of Korea, who overpowered Sweden’s Kalle Averfalk, 6-1, 6-4.

Patrombon’s surge in the singles also made up for his failed bid in the doubles event where he and partner Thai Nuttanon Kadchapanan dropped a 4-6, 2-6 setback to No. 6 Mitchell Krueger and Dane Webb of the US in the Last 16. The duo, however, earned 20 ranking points.