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.