Huey inches up doubles ladder

Fil-Am doubles specialist Treat Huey is now ranked No. 70 in the world and will likely move up to the top 60 after capturing his sixth title this year with American Travis Parrott in Vancouver last week.

Huey, who turns 26 on Aug. 28, will return to the Philippines’ Davis Cup lineup in the crucial relegation tie against Chinese-Taipei at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City, Cebu, on Sept. 16-18. A loss to the visitors will demote the Philippines to Group II in the Asia-Oceania zone. A win will keep the Philippines in Group I with New Zealand, China, Uzbekistan and the winner of the Korea-Thailand Group II tie to determine promotion.

So far, the Philippines has been unlucky in Davis Cup action this year, losing to Japan, 3-1, and New Zealand, 5-0. Chinese-Taipei dropped a 3-2 heartbreaker to China last March and drew a bye in the first round relegation playoffs. Huey did not play in the New Zealand series.

 “Treat has committed to play against Chinese-Taipei and is very much in shape now in doubles,” said Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) vice president Randy Villanueva. “He continues to improve and is excited to play again in Cebu.”

Veteran Cecil Mamiit will be the country’s playing captain. Huey, Ruben Gonzales and Jeson Patrombon are the others in the squad. Johnny Arcilla will be an alternate and if necessary, could be activated an hour before the draw.

Villanueva said preparations are now underway to stage the biggest tennis event in Cebu ever.

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 “We decided to lower the price of tickets from P500 a day for the tie against Japan last March to P200 a day,” said Villanueva. “For a season ticket, it’s P500. We are putting up a net or shade in the spectators area so that it won’t be too hot for the crowd. We’re convinced that it will be a successful Davis Cup and this time, we’ll have both sides of the stands overflowing with people. This project wouldn’t be possible without the support of Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza, councilor and tourism chairman Harry Radaza, Plantation Bay general manager Efren Belarmino, John Pages, Ken Salimbangon and Jess Lagman. We only have a short time to prepare coming off the New Zealand tie last July. But we’re confident of hosting a well-organized event. We’re now in the final stages of finalizing the TV coverage.”

Aside from Huey, the other Davis Cuppers are keeping busy to stay fit for Chinese-Taipei. Mamiit is competing in the US Open wildcard playoffs as a representative of Southern California. Gonzales is scheduled to play in five ATP (Association of Tennis Professionals) challengers and futures tournaments before the tie in Cebu. Patrombon also has a full calendar with five futures tournaments in the US.

 “Cecil will be in top shape and ready because he’s continuously joining big tournaments,” said Villanueva. “Ruben is excited to be nominated in his first home Davis Cup series and Jeson is also excited to be nominated to play in a home tie.”

In July last year, Chinese-Taipei beat the Philippines, 4-1, in Kaohsiung. It was Taiwan’s first victory over the Philippines in the Davis Cup after four losses in 1976, 1993, 1996 and 1999. The outcome wasn’t as decisive as the score would indicate.

Huey lost the first singles match to Tsung Hua Yang, 6-3, 7-6, 7-6. Mamiit levelled the count with a 6-3, 3-6, 1-4 retirement of Ti Chen. In the doubles, Mamiit and Huey dropped a 6-3, 7-5, 6-7, 7-6 thriller to Yang and Chu Huan Yi. Yang sealed it with a 2-6, 5-3, 6-2, 3-6, 6-3 marathon decision over Mamiit. Gonzales lost to Hsin Han Lee, 6-3, 6-0, in the no-bearing fifth match.

Philippines Davis Cup team manager Jean Henri Lhuillier is pulling no stops in giving his all-out support to the squad which is gunning for payback. Mamiit and Huey, in particular, are out for redemption – they want to repay Chinese-Taipei for the bitter loss last year.

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Huey’s progress is a positive sign in the country’s campaign to remain in Group I. Last week, he teamed with Parrott to claim the $3,100 first prize in Vancouver, outlasting Americans Jordan Kerr and David Martin, 6-2, 1-6, 16-14, in the finals. Before the title match, the pair upended Pierre Ludovic Duclos of Canada and Greg Jones of Australia, 6-2, 6-4, England’s Colin Fleming and James Ward, 6-4, 6-4, and Vasek Pospisil of Canada and the US’ Bobby Reynolds on a walkover.

This year, Huey has partnered with different players in winning six championships. Last February, he combined with Italy’s Simone Vagnozzi to capture the Morocco crown. Then in March, Pospisil and he took the title in Rimouski, Canada. In May, Huey and India’s Purav Raja won in Cremona, Italy and in June, he paired with Reynolds to rule in Winnetka, Illinois. Last month, Huey and South Africa’s Izak Van de Merwe split the $3,875 top prize in Bogota.

At the Farmers Classic in Los Angeles three weeks back, Huey and India’s Somdev Devvarmar shared the $18,000 second prize money after losing a two-hour cliffhanger to Bahamas’ Mark Knowles and Belarus’ Xavier Malisse, 7-6, 7-6, in the finals. They had previously ousted top-seeded Marcelo Melo and Bruno Soares of Brazil, 6-3, 6-4, Luxembourg’s Gilles Muller and England’s Jamie Murray, 6-2, 6-4 and fourth-seeded Israelis Jonathan Erlich and Andy Ram, 7-6, 6-7, 10-4.

In his pro career, Huey has earned $82,045 in 17 matches but this year alone, he has collected $36,384.

The Philippines hasn’t played in Group II since 2009 when Mamiit and Huey powered the national team to wins over Hong Kong, 4-1, Pakistan, 3-2, and New Zealand, 4-1.