Davis Cup drawing of lots today

THE DRAWING of lots for the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group 2 semifinal tie featuring host Philippines against Pakistan will be held today at the  Philippine Columbian Association.

The Filipino Cuppers will parade doubles world No. 47 Treat Huey as their main man along with veterans Johnny Arcilla and Ruben Gonzales and the comebacking Francis Casey Alcantara, the 2009 Australian Open junior doubles champion.

National coach Roland Kraut was appointed non-playing captain with former skipper Chris Cuarto helping out as one of the coaches.

But while the locals will have the homecourt advantage, the visitors will play in full force with Aisam Qureshi, the world No. 10 in doubles, and Aqeel Khan leading the team. Providing support are 22-year-old Yasir Khan and 17-year-old Mohammad Abid. Rashid Malik is team captain.

Qureshi, a US Open doubles finalist, didn’t play the last time Pakistan country faced the Philippines in 2008.

The opening singles will start at 10 a.m. on Good Friday. The doubles will be played on Black Saturday at 1 p.m., while the reverse rubbers are set on Easter Sunday.

“We hope that the crowd shows up even though it’s Holy Week,” said team manager Jean Henri Lhuillier. “This is the first time that a grand slam finalist and current top 10 in the world (Qureshi) will play a Davis Cup in the Philippines.”

Lhuillier said the Philippines is ready to take on the challenge. Alcantara is coming from a tournament in Boise, Idaho. The 22-year-old is on athletic scholarship at Fresno State University and is playing in US NCAA division 1. He last played in Davis Cup also at the PCA in 2009.

Huey has been training for weeks, while Gonzales has been playing ITF Futures prior to the tie. Arcilla is coming into the tie after touring Mindanao.