Pinoy netters to bank on 4 Davis Cuppers
GMAnews.tv
01/31/2011
The Philippine national tennis team will be banking on the four Davis Cuppers who won over Korea for the 2011 Asia Oceania Zone Group I opening tie against powerhouse Japan from March 4 to 6 at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Lapu Lapu City, Cebu.
Randy Villanueva, Philta Vice President and Philippine Davis Cup administrator, revealed that the association has named Fil-Ams Cecil Mamiit and Treat Conrad Huey to join local players Johnny Arcilla and Elbert Anasta to carry the cudgels for the host country against Japan.
The Japanese netters have dominated Philippines for some time, winning 17 of the two teams' 26 meetings in the Davis Cup.
Japan even swept the Filipino bets in the last three meetings — in 1996, 2008 and 2010.
It will be a different story this time, said Villanueva, as the country's players will maximize the homecourt advantage over their rivals.
For one, the Philippine Davis Cuppers will have the luxury of training early in the newly constructed tennis court in Plantation Bay, with any necessary that have to be made favoring the host players.
Mamiit, Huey, Arcilla and Anasta were tapped when the country faced Korea in the 2010 relegation tie finals, where the nationals clawed back from a 0-2 deficit to win the next three matches for a 3-2 victory.
“They showed better camaraderie and good vibe, so we have nominated them to play against Japan," said Villanueva.
All four netters have been training with Mamiit, who was tapped by Maria Sharapova as her hitting partner when she was preparing for the Australia Open.
Mamiit and Huey are arriving on February 18 and 21, respectively. The entire team will then go to Lapu Lapu City for training at the Plantation Bay venue, which is a slow court.
“We wanted to neutralize Japan’s power game, and with the crowd expected to support the team, we’re really optimistic we can pull this one off," stressed Villanueva.
“If we get past Japan, we really have a strong chance of making it to the World Group in 2012, since we will be up against Uzbekistan or New Zealand, both of which are not that strong, as compared to Japan," added the Philta official.
Japan has yet to name its players, but the expectation is that their its players, namely Tatsuma Ito, Go Soeda, Takao Suzuki and Toshihide Matsui, will banner the delegation.
These players saw action in the 2010 meeting as well as in the 16th Asian Games, giving Japan a bronze medal in the team event. - KY, GMANews.TV
Randy Villanueva, Philta Vice President and Philippine Davis Cup administrator, revealed that the association has named Fil-Ams Cecil Mamiit and Treat Conrad Huey to join local players Johnny Arcilla and Elbert Anasta to carry the cudgels for the host country against Japan.
The Japanese netters have dominated Philippines for some time, winning 17 of the two teams' 26 meetings in the Davis Cup.
Japan even swept the Filipino bets in the last three meetings — in 1996, 2008 and 2010.
It will be a different story this time, said Villanueva, as the country's players will maximize the homecourt advantage over their rivals.
For one, the Philippine Davis Cuppers will have the luxury of training early in the newly constructed tennis court in Plantation Bay, with any necessary that have to be made favoring the host players.
Mamiit, Huey, Arcilla and Anasta were tapped when the country faced Korea in the 2010 relegation tie finals, where the nationals clawed back from a 0-2 deficit to win the next three matches for a 3-2 victory.
“They showed better camaraderie and good vibe, so we have nominated them to play against Japan," said Villanueva.
All four netters have been training with Mamiit, who was tapped by Maria Sharapova as her hitting partner when she was preparing for the Australia Open.
Mamiit and Huey are arriving on February 18 and 21, respectively. The entire team will then go to Lapu Lapu City for training at the Plantation Bay venue, which is a slow court.
“We wanted to neutralize Japan’s power game, and with the crowd expected to support the team, we’re really optimistic we can pull this one off," stressed Villanueva.
“If we get past Japan, we really have a strong chance of making it to the World Group in 2012, since we will be up against Uzbekistan or New Zealand, both of which are not that strong, as compared to Japan," added the Philta official.
Japan has yet to name its players, but the expectation is that their its players, namely Tatsuma Ito, Go Soeda, Takao Suzuki and Toshihide Matsui, will banner the delegation.
These players saw action in the 2010 meeting as well as in the 16th Asian Games, giving Japan a bronze medal in the team event. - KY, GMANews.TV
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