SPECTATORS expressed their disappointment on why Jeson Patrombon and Ruben Gonzales were not fielded during the doubles match of the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Zone Group 1 knockout tie between the Philippines and Chinese Taipei at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa.
Patrombon and Gonzales were part of the Cebuana Lhuillier Philippine Davis Cup Team. Other members of the team are Cecil Mamiit, the playing team captain, and Treat Conrad Huey.
Patrombon and Gonzales’ names were submitted as the team’s doubles representatives during the draw. However, it was Mamiit and Huey who played instead.
Mamiit said they were just banking on the fact that he and Huey have been playing together for a long time and that their comfort level was high. He said they were hoping to ensure the win. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen that way.
Teams have a chance to change their lineup an hour before the singles and doubles matches.
Spectators, most of them requested not to be named, said that Patrombon and Gonzales should have played the doubles matches to gove Huey and Mamiit enough rest going into the reverse matches yesterday.
They said fatigue was one of the factors why Huey lost to Chinese Taipei’s Chen Ti in yesterday’s first reverse matches.
According to Frank Oliva of the Spinners Club at Baseline, there were other players in the team and that they should have been utilized.
“Davis Cup is always about a team, it’s not about being a hero,” Oliva said.
He added that the doubles match last Saturday was not a must-win situation and that they should have gambled on the younger players so Huey and Mamiit could have gotten enough rest.
“Age is a factor in tennis,” said Oliva.
Even Chinese Taipei no.1 player Chen said he did not understand why only Huey and Mamiit played. He said it was two versus all of them and it gave them a big advantage. /CORRESPONDENT MARS G. ALISON