Pantino, PHL team top group in Jr. Davis Cup qualifiers
Without dropping a single set, the Philippine Junior Davis Team wiped out the competition in the 2017 Junior Davis Cup Asia Oceania Pre-Qualifying Tournament in India.
Behind the hard work of Cebuano Arthur Craig Pantino, Marcus del Rosario and Janus Al Najeeb Ringia, the squad managed to win all their matches against Iraq, 3-0, and Bhutan, 3-0.
Pantino of Philippines Tennis Academy proved to be a workhorse as he anchored the team to victory. Against Iraq, he jumpstarted the team's winning ways after beating Younis Al Shaker, 6-0, 6-0, in the first singles. Del Rosario then beat Hadee Mohammed, 6-0, 6-2.
Afterward, Pantino and Ringia teamed up to beat Mohammed and Mohammed Yas, 6-1, 6-1.
Against Bhutan, Ringia defeated Tshering Tharchen, 6-1, 7-5. Pantino then defeated Tenzin Singye Dorji, 6-0, 6-1.
Pantino and del Rosario then completed the sweep after winning the doubles over Dorji and Tharchen, 6-1, 6-0.
For winning all of their matches, the junior tennis squad topped Group A and will now advance to another round of qualifiers next month also in India, where the Philippines will face the other top teams in the other groups like Vietnam in Group B, Singapore in Group C and Lebanon in Group D.
The team needs to at least finish within Top 8 to increase their chances of competing in the world stage. It will also give them a chance to skip the pre-qualifiers for next year's edition.