MANILA, Philippines - The Philippines, not Syria, will host the first round of the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Group II tie set Feb. 1-3 due to tension and unrest in the Middle East nation.
“Yes, it’s confirmed. We were just informed that we will be hosting the Phl-Syria Group II tie in February next year,” said Randy Villanueva, the Phl Tennis Association Davis Cup administrator, yesterday.
Villanueva added that the event will be staged outside Metro Manila.
“We’re still working on it, most probably out of town,” he said.
The Plantation Bay Resorts in Lapu Lapu City, Cebu hosted the Davis Cup twice with the Phl bowing to Japan and to Taipei, while the Filipinos swept Pacific Oceania in Iriga City.
The Phl is expected to tap Fil-Ams Treat Huey and Ruben Gonzales along with Francis Casey Alcantara and Jeson Patrombon against Syria.
Fil-German Marc Sieber is also expected to be invited to play for Team Phl as he is set to play in a local event set this December at Phl Columbian Association indoor courts in Plaza Dilao, Manila.
The Filipinos remained in Group II after losing to the Indonesians, 2-3, in Jakarta last September while the Syrians were recently promoted to Group II after scraping their way out of Group III this year.