Perk Valley’s Pain, Kewalramani take PAC-10 Doubles title

WORCESTER >> The Pioneer Athletic Conference Doubles Tournament played out over two days and eventually came down to a thrilling duel between the top tandems from Perkiomen Valley and Spring-Ford High Schools.

It became a dramatic three-set affair between the Vikings’ second-seeded Luke Pain and Shaan Kewalramani and Spring-Ford’s defending champions, No. 1 seed Patrick Pascual and TJ Cruickshank.

Down but not out, PV’s Pain and Kewalramani rallied from a set down to take the title, 2-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4, Friday afternoon at the Kinetix Sports Club.

“We started off in the first set not so strong,” said Pain, who fell to Pascual in the PAC-10 singles final two weeks ago. “We got more aggressive in the second set. We had some good volleys. It ended up working well.”

Both sides took turns making solid shots throughout the match, especially in some critical situations.

“In the tiebreaker, we were up,” said Pain. “We fought to the end. Both teams played really well.”

In the second set, we were able to turn it around. Then we were able to keep playing aggressively in the third set. It was almost a rematch of the singles tournament. I had the match against Pat, and basically we were able to play well. It was entertaining.”

Pain and Kewalramani are playing doubles together for the first time this year. However, the combination has proven to be quite successful as proven by the league championship. And now the two Vikings will lead the PAC-10’s contingent to the District 1-AAA Doubles tourney next weekend.

Because of the many times Pain has played Pascual, those two players are obviously quite familiar with one another. He also previously met Cruickshank, too. Pain used the knowledge gained from that experience to help advise Kewalramani on the Rams’ players tendencies on the court.

“I played them in PAC-10 singles (tournament) last year as well,” said Pain. “I know them. I told Shaan to stay aggressive to win the championship.”

In the semifinals, Pain and Kewalramani defeated Spring-Ford’s No. 2 team of Nick Griswold and Matt Yerkes 6-2, 7-6 (4). Pascual and Cruickshank advanced to the finals by virtue of a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Methacton’s youthful and talented unit of sophomore Krishna Suraesh and freshman Harsha Santhanam, who were the third seed for the tourney.

Perkiomen Valley enjoyed a strong PAC-10 season, led by its three singles players. Pain and Kewalramani were two of those players so Vikings coach Chris Ho paired them for this doubles competition, and it could not have worked out any better.

“In the beginning, we struggled,” said Kewalramani. “We weren’t getting things together. We were making a lot of errors. In the second set, things got going. We kept putting a lot of volleys together and we just played better with our serves and volleys. We were just more aggressive than they were in the second set.”

The Rams opened fast by taking the first set 6-2 in just 17 minutes. But after that matters swung in Perkiomen Valley’s direction considerably more. However, Spring-Ford still took the early lead in the second set as left-hander Cruickshank hit some key shots that enabled the Rams to hold serve at 1-0 and 2-1. His ace provided the game-winning point in the first game. Then after Pain also held serve, Pascual had the game-winner off another Cruickshank serve to put Spring-Ford ahead 2-1. Down 3-1, the Vikings began to make their big push.

They still trailed 5-3 after Cruickshank put the Rams a game away with a backhand winner. But Pain held serve to keep the Vikings alive at 5-4, and then PV broke serve to tie the set at 5-all and eventually force the pivotal tiebreaker.

With the match evened, both sides continued their attack, but Perkiomen Valley displayed increased confidence and ability to play against the league’s defending champions.

“Both teams played really well,” said Kewalramani. “In the first set, we didn’t have confidence because they were dominating. In the second set, we started to play well. We were able to win the tiebreaker and we were able to keep that throughout the third set.”

Spring-Ford’s players realize their season is not over either.

“We still have a chance at districts,” said Cruickshank. “They both were just more on in the second set. We had opportunities that we should have taken advantage of. It happens.”

Pascual echoed the comments, praising the Vikes for their championship victory.

“Luke and Shaan got a well-deserved win,” said Pascual. “I congratulate them. We just have to step forward.”

NOTES >> In the third-pace match, Spring-Ford’s Griswold and Yerkes won a 6-1, 6-2 verdict against Methacton’s Suraesh and Harsha Santhanam. … The fifth-place medal belonged to Phoenixville’s  team of junior Mike Ellis and sophomore Graham Light, who won a three-set match against Methacton’s No. 2 team of Nick Simeone and Hari Santhanam. The scores were 4-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4). … Also involved in the fifth-place playoff were Perkiomen Valley’s Brad Dickerman and Dylan Shoemaker and Owen J. Roberts’ Miller and Murray. … The PAC-10’s representatives in District 1-AA competition will be Pope John Paul II’s Jack Donovan and Lorenz Rustandi.