PH Cuppers set to battle Sri Lankans

FILIPINO Davis Cuppers will journey to Sri Lanka next year in a bid to move up from Asia Oceania Group 2 where they will be playing three years running.

Seen as an easy first round assignment, the Philippines, ranked 45th, takes on 64th seed Sri Lanka on Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 in an away tie.

For the second straight year, the Philippines stormed to the final with impressive first two rounds only to suffer a heart-breaking loss in the promotional team to remain in Group 2.

It dropped a 3-2 defeat to New Zealand last month in a tie that was decided down to the last set of the last rubber.

Sri Lanka, while enjoying a homecourt edge, has never gone beyond second round of Group 2.
This year, it survived Lebanon in relegation tie to stay in the group.

It was bannered by players Bassam Beidas, Harshana Godamanna and Rajeev Rajapakse this year, beating Pakistan in the first round.

Without looking past Sri Lanka, the Philippines is expected later in the year to tangle with Indonesia which defeated the PH Cuppers in last year’s promotional tie only to drop to Group 2 for next year.

Defending champion Czech Republic faces Serbia in the World Group final slated Nov. 15 to 17 in Belgrade.