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Tennis: Greece downs Pinoys, but hosts earn consolation win in Davis Cup

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/tvpatrol/03/06/20200307-stefanos-tsitsipas.jpg"/><figcaption>Francis Casey Alcantara and Ruben Gonzales beat Petros Tsitsipas and Markos Kalovelonis, as the Filipinos avoided a shutout in their World Group II tie Saturday. Handout</figcaption></figure></div>(UPDATED) Stefanos Tsitsipas destroyed whatever hopes were left in the Philippines’ campaign in their Davis Cup World Group II tie on Saturday, as the world No. 6 player downed Jeson Patrombon 6-2, 6-1 to seal the win for Greece.But the Filipinos earned some consolation, thanks to Francis Casey Alcantara and Ruben Gonzales, who won 7-6 (5), 6-4 at the expense of Petros Tsitsipas and Markos Kalovelonis in doubles action, a result that averted a shutout by the visitors at Philippine Columbian Association’s Plaza Dilao courts in Paco, Manila.Petros completed a 4-1 victory by the visitors after beating Eric Olivarez Jr. 6-4, 7-5.Drawing inspiration from the loud home crowd that packed the PCA, Alcantara and Gonzales did not disappoint.With the Philippines given up for dead down 2-0 in their 5-match tie, the Alcantara-Gonzales duo crashed the one-sided Greek party.The Filipino duo clawed their way back from a 1-3 deficit in the second set by taking five of the last six games and eventually the match.“The atmosphere was electric, the crowd gave us the energy we need to get this win,” said Gonzales.It was also the first team-up between Alcantara and Gonzales, whose original playing partner, US-based Filipino Treat Huey, couldn’t make it to the competition because of an injury.“We were trailing in the second set but the crowd willed us to fight back,” said Alcantara, who won the doubles gold with Patrombon in the 30th Southeast Asian Games last December.<div>For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website.</a></div>

Francis Casey Alcantara and Ruben Gonzales beat Petros Tsitsipas and Markos Kalovelonis, as the Filipinos avoided a shutout in their World Group II tie Saturday.

Francis Casey Alcantara and Ruben Gonzales beat Petros Tsitsipas and Markos Kalovelonis, as the Filipinos avoided a shutout in their World Group II tie Saturday.