Japanese netters call off training in bad weather

MANILA, Philippines - The Japanese Davis Cup team encountered a bad break yesterday with heavy rains causing them to lose one practice day at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa sand courts in Lapu Lapu, Cebu.

Team Japan has yet to test the surface with four days to go before the start of its Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group I tie with the Philippines.

“The Japanese arrived Saturday night, and they were supposed to practice in the afternoon but it rained all day,” said RP Davis Cup administrator Randy Villanueva.

The weather also prevented Team Pilipinas from holding a practice in the venue, but Filipino netters Cecil Mamiit, Treat Huey, Johnny Arcilla and Elbert Anasta and reserve Patrick John Tierro did some workout in nearby Cebu City.

“The team practiced in an indoor court in Cebu City,” said Villanueva.

Mamiit and company will be up against old rivals Go Soeda, Yuichi Sugita, Tatsuma Ito and Takao Suzuki.

The Japanese blanked the Filipinos, 5-0, in their meeting in Osaka, Japan last year.

The Pinoy netters arrived in Lapu Lapu as early as a week ago and should be familiar with the weather and surface by now.

Villanueva also announced the arrival of their physical therapist Rico Barin, who took care of the Filipinos’ conditioning when they rallied from 0-2 down in pulling the rug from the Koreans in South Korea last year.

Despite the bad weather, Villanueva said the team is in high spirits.