CITING personal reasons, veteran Jeson Patrombon has withdrawn from the national tennis team that will compete in the 32nd Cambodia Southeast Asian Games, according to national coach Chris Cuarto.
Cuarto told Radyo Pilipinas 2, formerly known as DZSR Sports Radio, yesterday that Patrombon, a former SEA Games men’s doubles gold medalist, has to attend to “some personal matters.”
Left to carry the cudgels for the men’s squad are Francis Casey Alcantara, Fil-Am Ruben Gonzales, Jed Olivarez and Miko Eala, the brother of teen sensation Alex Eala, who will also skip the Cambodia SEA Games because the schedule conflicts with her pro itinerary.
The women’s team is made up of veteran Marian Jade Capadocia, Jeanila Prula, Shaira Hope River and comebacking Khim Iglupas.
Cuarto is pinning his hopes on Alcantara and Gonzales retaining their men’s doubles championship and hopes the others step up so they can match, if not surpass, the country’s tennis tally of one gold, one silver and four bronze medals in the Vietnam SEA Games last year.
He said they expect to arrive at least a day or two before the SEAG tennis tournament opens on May 6 at the Morodok Techno Sports Complex tennis courts in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
