Jeson joins Davis Cup tie vs Kiwis

MANILA, Philippines - Junior ace Jeson Patrombon has been nominated by the Philippine Tennis Association to the Phl team in the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Zone Group I playoff tie against New Zealand on July 8-10 in Taranaki, New Zealand.

According to Philta vice president and Davis Cup coordinator Randy Villanueva, Patrombon, a quarterfinalist in the 2011 Australian Open Juniors singles and new holder of ATP points, will join veteran Cecil Mamiit, Treat Huey, Ruben Gonzales and Johnny Arcilla.

“I think he deserves this with his successful Australian Open (campaign) plus he just got two ATP points from competing in the ITF Futures so he somehow has experience playing in men’s international competitions now,” Villanueva said.

Patrombon, 18, is slated to play in the Junior Championships-Wimbledon this week prior to the DC.

Fil-Am Huey, though, remains doubtful. He is set to play in the Wimbledon men’s doubles, where he and Izak Van Der Merwe of South Africa are up against 11th seed Wesley Moodie of South Africa and Dick Norman of Belgium.

“He’s not 100 percent sure of coming. He wants to play but he’s at a stage he has a chance to break the Top 50 in the ATP world rankings and make it to the main ATP tour,” said Villanueva of Huey, who currently holds a ranking of 91st.

Mamiit, according to Villanueva, recently won a sectional tournament in South California, while Gonzales reached the men’s doubles finals in a recent ITF Futures meet in Mexico and Arcilla is preparing locally.

“Everybody’s busy preparing,” Villanueva said, anticipating a tight duel with the Kiwis. “Overall, the tie would be 50-50; it’s very even. In terms of experience, we have the edge but that will be evened out because they will have the home court advantage.”