INQUIRER Sports

MANILA, Philippines -- Retirement is still far from the mind of Cecil Mamiit.

The 34-year-old tennis standout said he would focus his attention on the Davis Cup tie against South Korea next week, and the Asian Games in Guangzhou in November.

The Filipino-American, who will be assuming the post of playing team captain for the Cebuana-Lhuillier Philippine Davis Cup team, believes there is still a lot of gas in his tank.

?Right now, I want to concentrate on the Davis Cup and the Asian Games,? said the back-to-back Southeast Asian Games gold medalist and 2006 Asian Games bronze winner after practice at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center on Wednesday.

The Philippines faces Asian powerhouse Korea on Sept 17 to 19 at the Chanwon Municipal Tennis Courts and a loss to the host country would relegate the country to Group 2.

The country lost two previous ties?against Japan and Chinese Taipei?this year.

But team manager Jean Henri Lhuillier expressed optimism over the chances of the team composed of Mamiit, Johnny Arcilla, Treat Huey and Elbert Anasta.

The RP Cuppers will play exhibition matches on Saturday at the Palms Country Club in Alabang. Matches start at 1:30 p.m. and are free to the public.

Filipino-Italian Marc Reyes, one of the young players being groomed for the national team, will join the friendlies and will be pitted against Anasta in the first singles.