National team standouts Treat Huey, Ruben Gonzales and Johnny Arcilla joined the clamor for reforms in the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) after it was slapped a two-year suspension by the sport’s world governing body, which would mean the ban on the PH Team from seeing action in international events. The US-based Huey, a two-time Southeast Asian Games gold winner and many-time Davis Cupper, asked that the Philta abide by the conditions set by the International Tennis Federation (ITF) in order to get the sanction lifted.
“I think the ITF is doing the right thing. Philta needs to be open about what is going on,” Huey told the Inquirer.
Gonzales described the suspension—which bans the Philippines from joining team competitions—as “extremely disappointing.”
“Not only does playing for our country give us great pride, but it is also how we as athletes make our living,” said Gonzales. “We the athletes should not have to suffer even more from what has probably been the toughest year.”Arcilla pleaded to the Philta to “make positive changes for the betterment of Philippine tennis by instituting programs for national athletes. In the end, it’s the national players and upcoming players who will be affected by this.”
In its Facebook page, Philta branded the decision as “reckless and shameless destruction of Philippine tennis by wrongly suspending Philta.”
ITF president David Haggerty said it will eventually support Philta should it implement the necessary reforms to its leadership and membership structure.
The ITF also proposed a roadmap to take by next March, which includes the amendment of membership criteria for broader representation. By May, ITF hopes Philta trustees, including the Unified Tennis of the Philippines, nominate a three-man electoral commission, and hold new elections on or before September.
Huey, meanwhile, also admitted getting slighted after he was bypassed in the Davis Cup tie last March against Greece. INQ