Patrombon outlasts Dandan in Olivarez Cup

MANILA, Philippines -- Former world juniors standout Jeson Patrombon needed an extra set to eke out a come-from-behind 2-6, 7-6(3), 6-4 victory over comebacking countryman Kyle Joshua Dandan to close in Sunday's qualifiers to close in on a spot in the main draw of the 2014 Olivarez Cup International Tennis Federation Men's Circuit at the Rizal Tennis Center.

Patrombon, who made it to as high as the Top 10 in the world rankings during his junior days, will need another win against qualifying round second seed Andrew Ochotta of Canada, a 7-5, 6-1 winner over Vu Artem of Vietnam, will send him straight to the main draw of this weeklong Men's Futures event.

There awaits Phl Davis Cup veterans Johnny Arcilla, Patrick John Tierro and Elbert Anasta and Fil-Italian March Reyes, who were all granted wild card entries enjoyed by the host country.

"It's a first step towards the main draw," said the 20-year-old Patrombon, a former Davis Cupper himself.

Leander Lazaro overpowered Indonesian Gregorius Tahu, 6-0, 6-1, while Tomas Francisco Puno downed Indian Medhir Goyal, 6-4, 6-3, to also move closer from barging into the 32-man main group.

Puno will  face off with Australian Brian Tran, who edged Mitsubishi International Junior Tennis Championship campaigner Jack Van Slyke of Canada, 6-4, 7-5(2), hoping for a triumph that will send the former through.

For Lazaro, he will need to beat the winner of the Vernon Huibonhoa-Nguyen Hoang Thien showdown, which was being played at press time, to make the cut.

Other Filipinos in the thick of things were Asian Youth Games veteran Jurence Mendoza, Jerome Romualdez, Jurence Mendoza, Eric Olivarez, Jr., Calvin Charles Canlas and Calvin Chung.

AJ Lim, the youngest participant at 14 years old, couldn't cash in on his first set lead and fell to 27-year-old Kelsey Stevenson of Canada, 7-6(5), 6-3.

Also making headway was American Tin Dong, who walloped countryman Peter Czaska, 6-1, 6-0, to arrange a duel with top seed Yang Shao Chi of Chinese Taipei, who made it through the qualifier's final round via bye.