RP Davis Cuppers sasabak vs. Thailand

LAPU LAPU CITY, Cebu, Philippines - – Inaasahang maganda ang ipapakita ni top player Ruben Gonzales, na haharap kay Thai No. 2 player Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul sa opening singles ngayon ng Davis Cup Group 2 Asia/Oceania tie sa clay courts ng Plantation Bay Spa and Resort dito.

Susunod na sasalang si Johnny Arcilla, ang nakalistang  No. 2 tennis player ng bansa, para sa Cebuana Lhuillier-Philippine team  kontra kay  Danai Udomchoke sa labanan ng mga veteran campaigners simula sa alas-3:30 ng hapon.

Sina Australian Open juniors doubles gold me-dalist Francis Casey Alcantara at No. 27th doubles player Treat Huey ang sasabak sa doubles kontra sa pares nina Nuttanon Kadchapanan at Pruchya Isarow sa alas-6:00 ng gabi bukas.

Pinangunahan ni Mayor Paz Radaza ang bunutan para malaman kung sino ang maglalaban-laban na ginawa kahapon sa Alcatraz Ballroom ng resort na sinaksihan ni ITF referee Nittin Kannamwar ng India, Philippine Tennis Association secretary general Romeo Magat, Philta vice president Randy Villanueva at Plantation Bay general manager Efren Belarmino.

 â€œWe are prepared for any draw, but this is good,’’ sabi ni PH non-playing captain Roland Kraut. “We are facing a young bunch of players whom I saw play in the juniors last February at Rizal Memorial. They are young but they have the patience to play in this kind of surface.’’

Ayon kay Udomchoke, tiwala pa rin siyang mananalo ang kanyang koponan bagama’t may homecourt advantage ang kalaban.

“Hopefully it’s a close match, we are a young team and playing against the Philippines in their home court can be very tough,’’ sabi ni Udomchoke. ``But I believe in my young teenagers. If we lose this is still a good experience for them, and would help them in the long term.’’

Ayaw din namang maging kumpiyansa ni Arcilla bagama’t nanalo ito ng apat na sunod na local tournaments na nilaro sa clay courts. “I will try to keep the game close and if I had the chance I will go for it,’’ sabi ng 33-gulang na si Arcilla. “I saw him (Udomchoke) play many times before but haven’t played him yet.”

Naniniwala naman si Gonzales na kaya nilang manalo matapos ang dalawang-beses-isang-araw na ensayo. “We all had a good preparation and the team is pumped up,’’ aniya.