Mamiit and company retained for Davis Cup team vs Japan

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines will parade the same crew that scored a come-from-behind win over Korea on hostile ground last year for its upcoming Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone Group I first-round encounter with Japan on March 4-6 at Plantation Bay in Lapu-Lapu City.

According to Phl Davis Cup administrator Randy Villanueva, the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) board has nominated playing captain Cecil Mamiit, Fil-Am Treat Huey and homegrown bets Johnny Arcilla and Elbert Anasta anew for the showdown with the Japanese.

“What we’re looking at is retaining the team that played in Korea. It seems like they have a good vibe into it,” Villanueva said in a radio interview yesterday.

The Phl Cuppers shocked the Koreans in their relegation playoff in Changwon City last September, wiping out a 0-2 deficit via Mamiit and Huey’s victories in the doubles and reverse singles to steal the tie.

This win enabled the Filipinos to stay in Group I in 2011 and, given the relatively good draw this time, officials feel the Cuppers have a good shot at making the higher stages. Should Phl hurdle Japan, it woud play either Uzbekistan or New Zealand next. Another victory will send it to the World Group playoffs.

“With the way we’re preparing the team and ever since we found out we’re hosting this tie, we’re confident we can pull this off,” Villanueva said.

“Japan is a tough rival but we’re lucky that we’re hosting and we’ll try to maximize all the advantages against them. If we can get through Japan, we’ll have a good chance to beat either Uzbekistan or New Zealand in the second round and be in the World Group (playoff) by September,” he added.

Mamiit, who is working out on his own in the US after a stint as Maria Sharapova’s hitting partner, and Huey, playing in international tourneys, are expected to be in the country by Feb. 18. Together with Arcilla and Anasta, they will fly to Cebu on Feb. 21 to train and familiarize with the newly-constructed shell court at Plantation Bay.

Japan has yet to name its nominees as official nomination is only due 10 days before the tie.

While the four players were already named, Villanueva did not discount the possibility of last minute changes. He said they will invite PJ Tierro and if schedule permits, Australian Open boys singles quarterfinalist Jeson Patrombon and Fil-German Marc Sieber to train with the team.