Mamiit to open Team RP bid vs Pakistan

MANILA, Philippines – Fil-Am Cecil Mamiit tries to deliver the early win and the momentum for the Cebuana Lhuillier-RP team as it hosts Pakistan in the Asia Oceania Group II Davis Cup tie beginning tomorrow at the Philippine Columbian Association tennis courts.

Mamiit is expected to anchor his team to victory against the unpredictable Pakistanis the way he did in the Philippines’ 3-1 drubbing of Hong Kong last March.

Mamiit, the back-to-back SEA Games gold medal winner, trounced Martin Sayer, 3-1, to seal the victory over their Hong Kong rivals.

In yesterday’s pre-draw press conference at the PJL Corporate Center in Makati City, team captain Chris Cuarto said Mamiit will play in the first singles match but remains undecided whom to field in the other singles duel.

Matches will start at 3 p.m.

“You all know Cecil will be playing the first singles match but for the other singles player, we’re still trying to sort it out,” Cuarto said.

Backing up Mamiit are Patrick John Tierro, Treat Conrad Huey and junior standout Francis Casey Alcantara.

For the doubles, Cuarto will also pin his hopes on Mamiit, possibly pairing him with Huey or Alcantara, whom he said are steeped in experience in doubles play.

“I think both of them (Huey and Alcantara) have their own strong points. It all depends on how they jive with Cecil, that’s a big factor. Cecil can set it up and maybe one of them can try to finish off. That’s the factor I’m considering,” Cuarto said.

Mamiit, meanwhile, opted to downplay his role and instead underscored his teammate’s competitiveness.

“ I don’t think I have to tell them anything else because they definitely have the talent. They worked hard to get to this level,” he said.

The Pakistan team will be composed of Ageel Khan, Jalil Khan, Yasir Khan and Aisam Qureshi, who had beaten Mamiit once during a US Open qualifying match in 2003.

Asked about the possibility of him meeting Qureshi in the crucial stretch of the tournament, Mamiit said he likes his chances.

“If I play him (Qureshi), I definitely be concentrating on returns since he is a very aggressive player. If I can neutralize his serve and make him work for every single point, I think I’ll be successful against him,” he said.

A win by the Filipino netters will set them up for a clash with the winner of the Indonesia-New Zealand duel for the promotional tie in Group 1. – Dino Maragay/Contributor