Mamiit, Taino reunite for Davis Cup, Asiad campaigns

The Philippine team will go into the international wars like the Davis Cup and the Asian Games this year boosted by the presence of two reliable Fil-Ams and backing of top businessman sportsman Manny V. Pangilinan.

Pangilinan has vowed to support the national team starting this year, while Fil-Americans Cecil Mamiit and Eric Taino have vowed to represent the country in this year’s Asian Games.

Pangilinan, chairman of telecommunications giants PLDT and Smart, will begin his sponsorship of the RP tennis team when the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group 3 action is held this week at the posh Manila Polo Club.

A press conference at the PLDT office in Makati yesterday confirmed MVP’s involvement in RP tennis. The RP team seeing action in the Davis Cup was presented to the media, from the players to the coaching staff.

Pangilinan was not around. But his representative, Smart’s wireless consumer division head Bong Mojica, said MVP’s sponsorship will go beyond the Davis Cup and hopefully even after December’s Asian Games in Doha, Qatar.

"We’ll have to take a look at it. But this is a good start," said Mojica.

Pangilinan is also a big supporter of RP badminton as shown during the MVP Cup 2: Asia vs Europe badminton tournament, which came to a close last Sunday.

Making up the RP Davis Cup team are Mamiit, Taino, PJ Tierro and Johnny Arcilla, the same solid team that handed the country three gold medals during last year’s 23rd Southeast Asian Games held in Manila.

Before the media launch, Mamiit and Taino, who flew in from the US over the weekend, confirmed their availability for the Asian Games where the competition is a notch, or some notches higher than the SEA Games.

"Yes, the Asian Games is already part of my schedule," said Taino.

"Wherever Eric goes, I’ll go," said Mamiit, the reigning singles champion in the SEA Games.

Eight teams will see action at the Manila Polo Club starting on Wednesday until Sunday. Aside from the Philippines, coming in are teams from Bangladesh,

Bahrain, Iran, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka and Vietnam.

The eight teams will be divided into four groups with each group playing a three-day round-robin competition. The top teams will advance to the semis where again the top two will be promoted to Group 2 next year.

The drawing of lots is scheduled this afternoon at the Cameron Forbes Room of the Manila Polo Club. Then action begins tomorrow at 10 a.m.