Iriga to stage Davis Cup tie

MANILA, Philippines - Iriga City will host the Davis Cup Group II first round Asia-Oceania tie between the Philippines and Pacific-Oceania slated from Feb. 10-12 at the Iriga City Coliseum in Bicol.

Host city Mayor Madeline Alfelor-Gazmen made the announcement in the event launch yesterday at the Food Republique in Quezon City. She added they are scheduled to sign the memorandum of agreement with Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) officials next week to finalize the contract.

“It will be an honor for us to host an international tennis event of this magnitude and rest assured the people not just of Iriga City but the rest of Bicol will support our Davis Cup team,” said Alfelor-Gazmen, a former tennis player and enthusiast.

The Filipinos, composed of Fil-Ams Cecil Mamiit, Treat Conrad Huey and Ruben Gonzales and locals Jeson Patrombon and Johnny Arcilla, are expected to lead the country’s bid to regain its place in Group I.

The Phl, currently competing in the 26th Southeast Asian Games in Indonesia, lost its spot in Group I after yielding to Chinese Taipei, 2-3, in their relegation tie last August in Cebu.

Pacific-Oceania, which defeated Iran, 4-1, in their own relegation tie to stay in Group II, are composed of players from associate member islands of Oceania except those from Australia and New Zealand.

West Nott, Cyrile Jacobe, Leon So’Onalole, Michael Leong and Daniel Llarenas make up the Pacific-Oceania team that joined the Davis Cup in 1995 and whose best finish was a second round stint in Group II in 2005.

Alfelor-Gazmen said they will tap the newly refurbished rubberized tennis court of the Iriga City Coliseum as the venue of the event that will coincide with the Tinagba 2012 Gayon Bicol Festival slated Feb. 5-12.

The festival, to be participated in by neighboring Bicol cities and provinces like Albay, Naga, Legazpi, Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Catanduanes, Masbate and Sorsogon, will also feature other events like the Extreme Bike Challenge on Feb. 5, tourism expo on Feb. 6, the inauguration of the Eco-Adventure Park on Feb. 7, the Youth Congress on Feb. 8, the Davis Cup and the Festival of Festivals on Feb. 11.

“This is the first time we’re venturing into sports and we’re really excited about it because we’re not just hosting the Davis Cup, we’re also hosting Bicol’s festival of festivals at the same time,” said Alfelor-Gazmen.