Demonstrating nerves of steel and a fighting heart the Philippines beat top seeds and overwhelming favorites Thailand to win the men’s team gold medal in tennis in the 25th Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane, Laos late Saturday.
Cecil Mamiit and lefty Treat Huey who stepped up to take the place of another fine player in Eric Taino who quit competitive tennis a couple of years ago, gave the Philippines a cherished gold in a gripping doubles victory that went into a final set tiebreak with pandemonium breaking out in the stands as Laotian fans cheered our players and celebrated their epic victory.
After splitting the two singles matches and the first two sets of the crucial doubles, the tandem of Mamiit and Huey were up a break in the third set leading 5-3 before the Thai doubles pair of the famous twins Sonchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana evened the count at 5-5 and even had match-point in the deciding set.
But they never reckoned with the fighting heart and grim determination of Mamiit and Huey who eventually clawed back to force a tiebreak before winning the classic showdown 6-4/3-6/7-6 to add one more precious gold to the distressing tally of 8 golds which put the Philippines in sixth place with the same number of gold medals as the tiny host nation of Laos.
Huey got the Philippines off to a rousing start by beating Kittinpong of Thailand 6-4/1-6/7-6 in the opening singles but the Thais quickly evened the score with their ace singles player Danai Udomchoke overpowering Mamiit in straight sets 6-4/6-2 setting the stage for the crucial doubles match. .
Mamiit who stunned Udomchoke by winning the gold medal in Manila in the Men’s singles in the 2005 SEA Games failed to duplicate that form but in the men’s doubles Mamiit and Huey avenged the 2005 loss in doubles to the Ratiwatana twins who won the gold leaving Mamiit and Taino to settle for the silver medal.
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