Two singles wins cap D Cuppers' 5-0 sweep

MANILA, Philippines - Francis Casey Alcantara and Johnny Arcilla pulled off straight-set victories in their non-bearing reverse singles matches as the Philippines swept Pakistan, 5-0, to get a crack of regaining its old, familiar place in Group I in their Asia-Oceania Zone Davis Cup Group II semifinals at the Philippine Columbian Association’s center court in Plaza Dilao yesterday.

Already assured of a spot in the Group II finals after going 3-0 the first two days, the Filipinos completed the sweep following victories by Alcantara over Muhammad Abid, 6-2, 6-1, and Arcilla over Yasir Khan, 6-3, 6-4.

The team takes on the winner in the match between Thailand and Indonesia on Sept. 14-16.

Playing his first Davis Cup match in two years, the 20-year-old Alcantara, substituting for Phl No. 1 Treat Huey, didn’t disappoint and quickly disposed of Abid to improve his record to 2-2 (win-loss) in this tournament, one of the biggest team events in the world today.

Arcilla, for his part, had a harder time against the younger Khan before the 32-year-old veteran used his experience and familiarity with this same court where he won a club record six championships to hammer out the win.

It was the second win for Arcilla, who also scored a 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 victory in the opening singles on Good Friday over Aqeel, the oldest and the most seasoned among three tennis-playing Khan brothers.

It was his 26th win overall in 46 matches spread through 27 ties.

Huey, currently ranked 50th in doubles in the world, followed it up with a merciless 6-1, 6-0, 6-3 drubbing of Yasir Khan before he teamed up with fellow Fil-Am Ruben Gonzales in Saturday’s doubles in smashing Aqeel and Jalil Khan, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, to clinch the tie and render yesterday’s matches non-bearing.

“It was a very good tie, the crowd showed up even though it was Holy Week. With the way we played I think we are ready for the Group II final against either Thailand or Indonesia. This is a young team that is continuously rebuilding and I’m happy our efforts are paying off,” said Phl team manager Jean Henri Lhuillier of team sponsor Cebuana Lhuillier.

“We expected this win considering that their top player pulled out,” said non-playing team captain Roland Kraut, who took over when Cecil Mamiit, responsible for steering the team to Group I for two years, pulled out at the last minute.

The team’s participation is backed by Cebuana Lhuillier’s Jean Henri Lhuillier, Slazenger, ACCEL and the Philippine Sports Commission.