Lessons learned

After another loss in the Davis Cup, many have said that it is about time for team captain Cecil Mamiit to retire.

While it might be popular to say that he should, I think that is very unfair to the man, whose passion for the sport and the desire to win is evident each time he plays.

Cecil need not retire, he can still be there but the other members of the team have to be given a chance to play.

The Philippines had four players on its lineup for the tie against Chinese-Taipei. While the visitors used their four men wisely, the Philippines used only two and lost.

While Cecil and Treat Condrad Huey are still considered as the best we can offer, giving them rest would have produced a better outcome.

* * *

Tennis is a sport that is played in either singles or doubles, but in team play, those that make the decisions have to consider the TEAM.

You can have the world’s best player in the lineup, but your team can’t win with one man alone.

The Philippines had a good chance against Chinese-Taipei, but last Sunday when I caught up with the third set of the first match of the reverse singles, Huey looked very tired. He was already two sets down at that point and eventually lost the match.

There are lessons to be learned in every game whether you won or lost and I hope that the officials of the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) would use such to get our team to do better next time.

Win or lose though, I still say, Go Philippines!

* * *

Aside from Chinese-Taipei, I believe that two other winners of last weekend’s tie were host Plantation Bay Resort and Spa and Lapu-Lapu City.

Once again, they proved that the close cooperation between government and the private sector can definitely do wonders.

The reason is simple. There are things that the private sector can easily do and the same goes for government. Putting them together would make things a lot easier to do.

There are more sports tourism initiatives in Lapu-Lapu City that we ought to look forward to.

* * *

MILESTONES: This is a very special day as I mark the 15th year of a most wonderful birthday gift – the birth of my son Nico Anton. It seemed only yesterday when I could carry him, but now he easily outdrives me on the golf course.

Belated birthday greetings to those who turned a year older last weekend like my good friends Alfonso ‘Ponsoy/Pancho’ Alvarez and Marisa Lerias.

Belated greetings also go to Bob Sellner, Gisela Villamor, Debra Jane Magallon-Estero, Eya Rapes-Shrimsky, Jerry Roa, Kiyo Takahashi, Randy Cabahug, Reycel Dacoco-Altavas, and Manang Risa Wycoco-Coloyan, who turned a year older last Monday.

The same goes to those who celebrated yesterday like Roderick ‘Bado’ Silva, Marisol Pasion, Marlwin Piner-Abadia, my mistah Erwin Lamzon, and international football referee Randy Estremos.

Also celebrating today are Cerwin Eviota, coach Glen Ramos, Jacqueline Siwala, my godson and judo champion Vicente ‘Nonoy’ Fernandez III, Feliza Candia, Gelia Caingcoy-Salili, Jojo Osmeña, Cherry Muntuerto, and radio station DYRC.

More power to all of you! - THE FREEMAN