Patrombon joins pro tour

MANILA, Philippines - After making his mark in the juniors circuit where he’s among the Top 10 campaigners in the world, Filipino ace Jeson Patrombon will start embarking on the men’s pro tour next month.

According to coach Manny Tecson, the 18-year-old Patrombon will seek a wild card berth in $10,000 ITF Futures tournaments in Thailand and India this April.

“He’s eager to play in the men’s pro,” said Tecson of his ward, rated 9th in the world among junior netters. “A lot of coaches in the juniors are saying that the guys in the Top 10 (of the juniors division) are the ones who turn pro. So it’s really the natural case course to take for us.”

Patrombon just concluded a successful Asian circuit in the juniors, taking runner-up honors in three successive Grade 1 tournaments in Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines. Prior to these, the pride of Iligan City reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open juniors, which enabled him to break in the Top 10.

Even if he’s testing the waters among the men, Patrombon will still compete in the remaining juniors grand slams this year, according to Tecson. Patrombon turned 18 last Sunday but will still be eligible to play in the juniors’ circuit until Dec. 31.

“Our program for the year is 60 percent juniors and 40 percent men’s,” said Tecson.