Pinoy fans cheer for Taiwanese players

CEBU, Philippines - A big group of Pinoys, mostly clad in red shirts, watched the Davis Cup-Asia/Oceania Group I relegation playoff at Plantation Bay Resort and Spa yesterday, but unfortunately they cheered not for the country’s bets, but for the opposing Chinese-Taipei side.

It has stirred negative reaction from fellow Pinoys who are rooting for the Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Philippine team.

That group, however, had no choice but to cheer for the Taiwanese visitors as they are employees of two Lapu-Lapu City-based companies, Formosa and Headway, whose big bosses are said to be Chinese-Taipei nationals.

“Our bosses are Taiwanese.It’s ironic indeed that we have to support them, but we have to,” said an employee who refused to be identified.

The employees get paid for watching plus a bonus might be given to them depending on the turnout of events in the next two days. They were suppose to have work yesterday but was pulled out for this event.

At the end of the first match, the Chinese-Taipei supporters saw Chen Ti winning over Cecil Mamiit, 6-7, 6-2, 7-6, 6-3. (FREEMAN)