WISHAYA TRONGCHAROENCHAIKUL celebrated his 23rd birthday with a bang.
The 5’9” Trongcharoenchaikul finished strong and stopped Jeson Patrombon, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5, to help carry Thailand to a 4-1 triumph over the Philippines yesterday at the Philippine Columbian Association indoor shell courts.
Ranked no. 433 in the world, Trongcharoenchaikul held his ground from the baseline in the first reverse singles, securing the crucial third point in their Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group 2 semifinals tie.
As the match ended with the Thais ahead at 3-1, after 2 hours and 20 minutes, the Thais moved to the Group 2, and will next face the winner of the Hong Kong-Lebanon tie in the finals.
The Philippines, which have lost to the Thais twice in a row since last year, are now tied with Thailand in their head-to-record at 4-all.
With the setback, the Philippines will remain in Group 2.
In the final match of the day, Palaphoom Kovapitukted formalized Thailand’s win with a 6-4, 6-3, stopping of Bryan Otico.
After the world ranked Patrombon tied the match for the last time at 4-all, Trongcharooencharakul stayed close to the baseline.
And he hardly left his position as he unleashed an ace and a service winner that allowed him to hold serve in the ninth games.
Patrombon said he felt pressured as his Thai continued to unleash low-angled slices.
It was finally over Patrombon when he committed two forehand errors, and Trongcharooencharakul broke serve, and finally won the set and the match, 6-4, with a forehand smash. Peter Atencio
“I tried to stay tough and I did not want to give him easy points because he also plays well under pressure,” said the long-haired Trongcharooencharakul, who added that shell court surface may have slowed them down. But they were quickly able to adjust to the conditions.
Patrombon went on the attack in the second set, and hardly had trouble posting a 3-0.
“Sa third set, tight na. Andun na ang pressure. Lahat pumapasok,” said Patrombon.
The Ratiwatana twins, Sonchat and Sanchi, secured the doubles with a 6-4, 7-6(7-3), 6-1 beating of Arcilla and Alcantara, and out the Thais in a 2-1 lead earlier in the day.
Last Saturday, Patrombon gave the Philippines its first point when he defeated Jirat Navasirisomboon, 6-2, 6-2, in the first singles last Saturday.
Trongcharooencharakul equalized with a 6-3, 6-4 triumph over J Otico in the second singles.
Non-playing captain Chris Cuarto said the team needs to be able to finish strong in future games.
“Towards the end, dun tayo nayayayari. But it was a good match. I would say the boys played far better than what is expected of them,” said Cuarto.