JESON Patrombon is apparently trying to juggle between chasing individual world ranking points and playing for flag and country.

The scoreline in his opening match in the Thailand F5 Futures in Phuket on Monday showed promise but, at the same time, the Philippine team is just days from leaving for the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia.

The 18-year-old scored a 6-2, 6-1 victory over Grittaboon Prahmanee of Thailand and will next take on another Thai in Warit Sornbutnark on Wednesday in the round-of-16 of the International Tennis Federation (ITF)-sanctioned tournament.

The Philippine team had apparently requested Patrombon to join the team early for the SEA Games, although the tennis tournament in Palembang doesn’t start until Sunday. Other members of the Philippine team are scheduled to leave Manila for Indonesia on Thursday.

Patrombon is still outside the 1,000 top players in the world but with ranking points at stake in Thailand, Patrombon could break the top 800 after this tournament, according to his personal coach Manny Tecson.

“Jeson is in great form and all our training and practices are proving to be the key elements in his matches,” said Tecson. “This will again pick up his ranking and, who knows, if he does well here in the second leg he might break the top 800 world rankings after this tournament.”

“Mentally, Jeson is getting stronger in every match he is playing and I believe he can reach his first quarterfinals in the Pro circuit,” said Tecson. “This will be a big psychological and confidence booster for the young kid because it will be his first time this year to break into the quarters of singles.” Patrombon also sees action on Wednesday in the doubles event with Dennis Lajola against compatriot Marc Reyes and Belgian Mark Kolenberg.

Reyes lost to Thailand’s Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul, 7-5, 3-6, 6-2.

The Filipino-Italian was holding a 5-2 lead but couldn’t hold on and allowed the Thai to steal the first set, 7-5.

“It could just have been a straight set win for him but he was not able to capitalize on his lead,” said Tecson.

“Marc is still a work in progress and he is competing well but still needs more experience at this level to close out and toughen up on the big important games. His game is developing fast and his physical has tremendously improved. It is his mental game that needs more consistency.”