Jeson turns back German, gains Last 16

MANILA, Philippines – Top seed Jeson Patrombon dumped German Patrick Elias, 6-3, 6-3, to barge into the Last 16 of the 22nd Mitsubishi-Lancer International Juniors Championship at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

Playing before his countrymen since breaking into the Top 10 of the ITF world rankings early this year, Patrombon outsteadied Elias in a showdown of hard-hitters to kick off his bid in the Grade 1 netfest.

He guns for a quarterfinal slot today against Mexican No. 14 Luis Patino, 6-1, 5-7, 6-3 winner over Australian Jordon Thompson.

“Mas inspired ako lalo kasi maraming sumuporta at sumigaw para sa akin ngayon hindi katulad sa Thailand at Malaysia na kami ni coach (Manny Tecson) lang. (I got inspired by the crowd from the crowd who rallied behind me today, this was unlike the previous legs in Thailand and Malaysia where coach Manny was the only one cheering for me),” Patrombon said after winning the one-hour, 30-minute contest.

Patrombon fell behind early, 1-2, but went on to assert his powerful forehands against the German bet, racking up four straight games and breaking Elias thrice from the fourth to ninth games to wrap up the first set.

Elias jumped the gun on the world No. 9 Filipino in the second, 2-0, but Patrombon quickly turned the tables by holding serve the rest of the way and breaking his rival twice to secure the victory before an appreciative crowd.

“Medyo nanibago rin ako sa court kasi madulas, hindi kumakapit sa shoes, at yung bola mabilis, so kailangan ko pa mag-adjust (The court was quite slippery and the ball was fast so I really had to make more adjustments),” said the Iligan City pride.

Patrombon’s most recent tournaments in Malaysia and Thailand were played in similar hard courts but Tecson explained that the Rizal venue presents a relatively faster court than the newer surfaces of the previous sites.

The 17-year-old ace is the last local bet standing after all 12 of Phl’s wild card holders were wiped out by foreign rivals in Tuesday’s first round.

“Hindi ko iniisip ang pressure, basta gusto ko lang manalo (I try not to get pressured and just think about winning),” said Patrombon.

He was too eager to secure match point with a forehand that he delivered the ball wide to the baseline four times, allowing Elias to force deuce. The Filipino, though, clinched it with a service winner and a forehand.