MANILA, Philippines - Christopher Rungkat overpowered last-minute Treat Huey replacement, Jeson Patrombon, 6-3, 6-2, 6-0, in the reverse singles to seal Indonesia’s 3-2 victory over the Philippines and a place in Group I in their Asia-Oceania Zone Davis Cup tie in Jakarta yesterday.
Francis Casey Alcantara turned back Sunu-Wahyu Trijati, 6-3, 6-7 (4), 6-4, in a non-bearing match to close out the tie in favor of the hosts.
Rungkat, the best-ranked singles player in this tie at No. 292, thus swept all his matches, beating Alcantara in the singles, 6-7(3), 2-6, 6-3, 0-6, and teaming up with Elbert Sie in the doubles to beat Huey and fellow Fil-Am Ruben Gonzales, 4-6, 6-3, 7-6(5), 6-2.
His efforts carried the Indonesians back to Group I while the Filipinos remained in Group II.
It’s a sorry loss for the Phl, which was forced to replace Huey an hour before the match after the Fil-Am hurt his shoulder in the first set of their doubles loss.
“The tie could have gone either way if we only got the breaks,” said Phl Davis Cup administrator Randy Villanueva in an e-mail. “Elbert Sie actually cramped already with his whole body after the doubles game.
“Alcantara would have clinched the tie if we only won the crucial doubles,” he added.
Phl team manager and sponsor Jean Henri Lhuillier of Cebuana Lhuillier said there is nothing to be ashamed of.
“We are very proud of our team, everybody played a bearing game and have important roles, everybody tried hard and gave their best,” said Lhuillier.