RP Cuppers drop opening singles

MANILA, Philippines - Fil-Ams Cecil Mamiit and Treat Conrad Huey dropped a pair of heartbreakers to their fancied Japanese rivals yesterday as the Philippines faced early ouster in their Asia-Oceania Zone Group I Davis Cup tie at the Namihaya Dome in Osaka, Japan.

Huey, 24, held his own against Japan No. 1 Tatsuma Ito but succumbed to pressure in a nerve-wracking 6-3, 3-6, 4-6, 6-3, 4-6 decision in the first singles match.

Mamiit outlasted Japan No. 2 Go Soeda in a tightly-fought opening set but failed to sustain his charge and lost the next three sets, 7-6 (4), 3-6, 3-6, 4-6, as the Filipinos found themselves in a 0-2 hole.

“It was a pair of close games, really tough,” said RP Davis Cup administrator Randy Villanueva in a text message from Osaka.

“But if you can see how our players played, you would be really proud of them,” he said.

Playing his first elite Group I match since taking over fellow Fil-Am Eric Taino last year, Huey lost his touch in the fifth set, enabling Ito to pound out the victory.

Leading at 5-4 in the decider, Ito, ranked 203rd in the ATP singles list, broke Huey serve to give the hosts an early 1-0 lead.

Soeda, meanwhile, dealt the 33-year-old Mamiit his first loss since stringing seven victories in Davis Cup matches against rivals from Hong Kong, Pakistan and New Zealand that carried the Philippines back to Group I.

It was also Mamiit’s second defeat to Soeda, the other half of Japan’s doubles team that beat the former and Taino, 5-0, in their Davis Cup Group I tie two years ago at the Rizal Tennis Center.

The Philippines hopes to avert a Japanese sweep as Mamiit and Taino see action again in the doubles match today in favor of Francis Casey Alcantara and Johnny Arcilla, facing Suzuki Takao and Tishihide Matsui.