Pinoys claim doubles vs tough Koreans

MANILA, Philippines - Cecil Mamiit delivered as promised yesterday, teaming up with Treat Huey as the Philippines beat South Korea in doubles and stayed alive in their Asia Oceania Group 1 Davis Cup tie in Changwon.

Mamiit strained his right hand and blew a two-set advantage against 17-year-old Jeong Suk-Young, 0-6, 1-6, 6-3, 6-0, 6-2, the other day while Huey lost a marathon match to Lim Yong-Kyu for a 0-2 deficit.

Johny Arcilla and Elbert Anasta were supposed to play in the doubles, but as the Philippines faced a must-win situation, there was no other choice but to field Mamiit and Huey instead.

And it paid off as the tested pair overcame Kim Hyun-Joon and Seol Jae-Min, 6-3, 6-4, 6-4, to cut the deficit to 2-1 heading to today’s reverse singles. The Philippines must sweep both matches.

Failure means that the Philippines, whose stint in the Davis Cup is supported by Cebuana Lhuillier, will slide down to Group 2 next year.

Mamiit will face Lim, only 19 but South Korea’s top player today, in the day’s opening match, hoping for a victory that will make Huey’s own battle with the 17-year-old Jeong a do-or-die match.

Team manager Jean Henri Lhuillier said Mamiit felt better with his hand the morning after Friday’s twin losses, and insisted that he be fielded in the doubles match. He vowed to win and he did.

``Although Johnny was ready, Cecil really wanted to play and promised to win the doubles, he said his body is okay and recovered well last night,” said Lhuillier.

“Cecil just decided to play the doubles during breakfast with the team,’’ he added.

The Philippines trails South Korea in their heads-on duel in the David Cup, 3-5, and the last time the Filipinos won was in 1967 with a team bannered by Felicisimo “Mighty Mite” Ampon.