RP netters blank rivals, top Group A

Host Philippines scored its third straight shutout win yesterday, beating Sri Lanka, 3-0, to top Group A of the Asian-Oceania Zone Group III Davis Cup competitions at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

After beating his first two rivals, Johnny Arcilla struggled a bit against Renouk Wijimanne but pulled off a 4-2, 4-2, 5-4 (2) victory just the same, before Adelo Abadia disposed of Dinuka Ranaweera, 4-0, 4-0, 4-1 for a sweep of the singles matches.

Rolando Ruel, Jr. and Joseph Victorino bucked a first-set setback and turned back the Wijimanne-Genendran Subramaniam tandem, 2-4, 4-1, 4-0, 5-3.

For topping Pool A, the host squad earned the right to face the second placer in Pool B, which is Tajikistan, in the crossover semis.

Tajikistan, which has a two-player contingent in this five-day event, dropped its two singles matches to Kazakhstan on a 2-4, 1-4, 0-4 defeat by Sergei Makashin to Pevel Baranov and a 4-0, 5-3, 2-4, 3-5, 2-4 setback by Mansur Yakhyaev to Aloxey Kedryuk.

"You could say that we’re the favorites on paper pero bilog ang bola at marami ang posibleng mangyari bukas," said non-playing team captain Joseph Lizardo, who steered RP to 3-0 triumphs over Singapore and Bahrain.

Arcilla faces Makashin while Abadia, who is a member of the Davis Cup team for four years now, clashes with Yakhyaev, who dragged Kazakhstan’s No. 1 player Kedryuk to a five-set match before bowing out.

While Lizardo is hoping for a sweep in the singles match today, which is set at 9 a.m. he might also spring some surprises in the doubles if the Filipinos split their singles matches.

"Anything can happen tomorrow (today). We just hope it doesn’t arrive on that but if it does, then I might use some variations," said Lizardo.

Like RP, Kazakhstan clinched the top spot in Pool B and will meet Pool A second placer Singapore, which won its singles matches over Bahrain to clinch a berth in the next round.