Kiwis rip Filipinos in Davis Cup tie

Filipinos Cecil Mamiit and Ruben Gonzales bowed to their doubles opponents in straight sets Saturday, allowing New Zealand to clinch their Davis Cup tie in TSB Hub, Hawera, New Zealand.

After a tightly fought first set, Kiwis Artem Sitak and Marcus Daniell were hardly threatened by the Filipinos in posting a 7-6 (7-0), 6-3, 6-2, triumph that gave the host an insurmountable 3-0 lead for a stint in the Asia/Oceania Group 1 next year.

No matter the outcome of today’s dead rubbers, The Cebuana Lhuillier-Philippine Davis Cup team now has to fight demotion to Group 2 when it goes up against Chinese Taipei in September at home.

It was the second straight defeat this year for the Filipinos, who took a 3-1 loss from Japan last March in Lapu Lapu City.

Organizers said they will still play the reverse singles where playing team captain Mamiit is expected to field Johnny Arcilla and rookie Jeson Patrombon.

Arcilla was set to play in the doubles with Gonzales but was replaced by Mamiit at the last minute after the Kiwis took a 2-0 lead.

Michael Venus downed Mamiit, 6-7 (8-6), 7-6 (7-4), 6-3, 4-6, 6-3, after Jose Statham dealt Gonzales a 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 loss last Friday.

The Filipinos’ campaign lost steam after Treat Huey, ranked 89th in doubles in the world, decided to play in an ATP Challenger in Rhode Island.