For the first time in CEBUMOA signed for Davis cup tie

CEBU, Philippines - Everything is already set for the prestigious tennis event, the Davis Cup tie, which will be held for the first time in Cebu on March 4-6 next year at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa.

Philippine Tennis Association (PhilTA) president Juanito Villanueva said he was able to see the need for the Davis Cup to be held outside Metro Manila.

 “The Davis Cup has always been hosted in Manila and I told them that it’s about time to bring the tournament to the provinces. There’s so much growth in the Visayas and Mindanao region and it is also one way of promoting tennis to the provinces,” said Villanueva, citing tennis as the second most popular sports next to basketball in the Philippines.

The Davis Cup is one of the world’s most acclaimed sporting events. Starting in 1990 as a tennis challenge between the U.S. and the Great Britain, it has now evolved as a competition that includes over 134 countries.

In March 4-6 next year, the Philippines will challenge Japan in the Davis Cup World Group I tie.

“The fight between Philippines and Japan will be historic and will be hotly-contested because we’ll have outdoor venue for the matches,” said Sportswriters Association of Cebu (SAC) president John Pages.

The Philippine team will be composed of Cecil Mamiit, who will be a playing coach, Robin Gonzales and French-German Marc Saver and the likes of Johnny Arcilla, PJ Tierro and Joseph Victorino.

Mamiit is also looking for possible players that will form the Philippine squad from the winners of the Philippine Columbian Association Open, which is the biggest local tournament in the country.

The signing of the Memorandum of Agreement for the Davis Cup tie took place yesterday at the hotel’s Alcatraz Ballroom with Philippine Tennis Association (PhilTA) president Juanito Villanueva of Davis Cup Philippines, Efren Belarmino, the general manager of the host venue, Consul Toshi Okajima of the Japanese Consulate in Cebu and Mayor Paz Corro Radaza of Lapu-Lapu City.

“I am the happiest man in this world,” said Villanueva after the MOA signing, referring to the fulfillment of his long-time plan of bringing Davis Cup in Cebu.

In preparation for the match, Plantation Bay is converting its two hard courts into one competition clay court, in compliance with the requirements of PhilTA. Renovations will also include accommo-dations for the bleachers to be set up by the Lapu-Lapu City Government.

The bleachers can occupy a total of 1,500 seats that will be available for the enthusiasts. The ticket prizes range from P500 per day for free seating, P2,500 for reserved seating with Davis Cup freebies and P5,00 for VIP seats.

“We’ve already been acclaimed as one of the best resorts in Asia, and in welcoming the Davis Cup Tie to Plantation Bay , we are glad to help in this remarkable event, which for the first time will be held outside Manila ,” said Belarmino.

“We are looking forward to showcasing Plantation Bay to these amazing athletes, as well as the Sport Tourism market, and we hope they will like on what they will see,” he added. (FREEMAN)