Huey, Mamiit kick off RP bid

MANILA, Philippines - Treat Conrad Huey and playing captain Cecil Mamiit banner the Philippines’ bid in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone as they take on their Chinese Taipei rivals at the Yang-Ming Tennis Center in Kaoshiung today.

The highest-placed Filipino in the ATP rankings at 125th, the 24-year-old Huey battles Tsung-Hua Yang, a former French Open boys singles champion and world No. 1 junior netter, in the first singles match.

Mamiit mixes it up with Ti Chen in the second singles event.

Fil-Am recruit Ruben Gonzales Jr. and veteran Johnny Arcilla see action in the doubles tomorrow as they clash with Yang and Yi Chu-Huan.

Mamiit collides with Yang and Huey tackles Chen in the reverse singles on Sunday.

“We find the draw very even for both teams,” said team manager Jean Henri Lhuillier. “We expect the games to be really close with both teams very familiar with the court surface (hard) and the weather (that’s similar to Manila’s).”

The Filipinos and the Taiwanese are looking to stay on in Group I with the winner of the tie keeping its place in the top bracket next year.

The loser will have to play either Korea or Uzbekistan in a relegation tie.