THE US-BASED Davis Cup mainstays Treat Huey and Ruben Gonzales will head the national team that will try to regain Group 1 status in the Asia-Oceania zone starting next year.
Philta vice president Randy Villanueva announced yesterday that the two other slots will be contested by five players as the country prepares for the promotional tie against powerhouse New Zealand here this September.
The five PH hopefuls are Philippine National Games champion Marc Reyes, seven-time PCA titlist Johnny Arcilla, former Cupper Elbert Anasta, junior stalwart Jurence Zosimo Mendoza and US NCAA Division 1 star Francis Casey Alcantara.
Villanueva said the Philta board will announce the final lineup based on their performances in the next several weeks.
Huey is expected to make the main draw in the doubles of the Wimbledon next week with British partner Dominic Inglot. The Virginia native is ranked 28th in the world after reaching 24th the previous month.
Gonzales, hero of the country’s conquest of Syria in the first round, dropped from 766th to 833rd in singles but gained in doubles with his highest ranking ever at 229.
He and Australian partner Chris Letcher reached the final of the Blois, France Challenger early this month, and made third round of the Milan Challenger this week.
Meanwhile, Filipino teen sensation Albert Lim Jr., was forced to retire in his singles quarterfinal match and then defaulted his doubles match Friday due to a bum stomach.
The 14-year-old Lim complained of stomach pains from a recent bout with diarrhea.