Filipino Davis Cuppers eye revenge over Taiwanese in relegation tie

MANILA—Philippine tennis, just like everybody else, craves for the popularity now being enjoyed by the Philippine Azkals or the Philippine Dragon Boat Federation team.

The national netters again get a chance to stir Filipino pride when they play host to Chinese Taipei in their Davis Asia-Oceania relegation tie slated September 16 to 18 at the Plantation Bay Spa and Resort in Lapu-Lapu City.

Philippine Tennis Association vice president Randy Villanueva said the Filipinos need a big win to get the kind of media mileage the Azkals and the Cobra Dragon Boat team now enjoy.

Cecil Mamiit, who has an on-and-off stint as Maria Sharapova’s in-house hitter, will again serve as playing team captain of the Cebuana Lhuillier-PH Davis Cup team also composed of Treat Huey, Ruben Gonzales and junior hotshot Jeson Patrombon with veteran Johnny Arcilla as alternate.

The tie will also serve as warm-up for the Filipinos in the coming Southeast Asian Games where the 35-year-old Mamiit is the defending men’s singles champion.

Villanueva said the winner of the tie will stay in Group 1 while the loser is demoted to Group 2 starting next year.

Chinese Taipei has been in Group 1 for six years, while the Philippines made it to the group last year.
The Filipinos are seeking to end back-to-back losses this year, 0-5 to New Zealand in July and 1-3 against Japan in Plantation Bay last March.

Chinese Taipei, which trails the Philippines in head-to-head matches (1-4) but won (4-1) last year in Kaohsiung, is also coming from a 3-2 loss to China in Shanghai in a tie decided on the fifth and last rubber.