PH Cuppers play host to Pakistanis

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippines will host Pakistan in the second round of their Davis Cup Asia-Oceania tie from April 4 to 6 after the matches were moved from Pakistan due to peace and order concerns.

A victory over Pakistan will line the Filipino netters up against either Kuwait or Thailand with promotion to the elite Asia-Oceania group at stake.

Among the venues being considered for the PH-Pakistan tie are Plantation Bay Spa and Resort in Lapu Lapu City, which has hosted five Davis Cup ties the past three years, and the  Philippine Columbian Association courts in Manila.

The country has won five of its six previous Davis Cup encounters with Pakistan, including four straight since 1975. The last time the Philippines triumphed was in 2012, when a team headed by Treat Huey swept the Pakistanis, 5-0, at PCA’s shell-clay courts.

Pakistan, powered by world-ranked Aisam Qureshi, downed Vietnam, 3-2, in the first round, while the Philippines ripped Sri Lanka, 3-1, in Colombo.

The Filipinos are expected to pin their hopes again on Huey and Ruben Gonzales, who both won their singles and doubles matches to seal the win over the Sri Lankans.

Philippine Davis Cup administrator Randy Villanueva said they are still finalizing the composition of the team.

Officials are trying to give the Huey-Gonzales partnership a chance to bloom as they gear up for the Incheon Asian Games later this year.

Huey, a two-time Grand Slam quarterfinalist, ranks No. 22 in world doubles. He reached the last eight of the 2014 Australian Open in partnership with Briton Dominic Inglot.