MANILA, Philippines - Fil-Am Treat Conrad Huey, who is battling for a semifinal slot in the doubles of the US Open, will spearhead the country's campaign against New Zealand in the Group II promotional tie of the Davis Cup Asia-Oceania Zone from Sept. 13 to 15 at the Plantation Bay Resorts and Spa in Lapu Lapu City, Cebu.
Huey, 28, another Fil-Am Ruben Gonzales, Johnny Arcilla and Francis Casey Alcantara will form the team that will play New Zealand's Michael Venus, Artem Sitak, Marcus Daniell and Daniel King-Turner for a spot in Group I.
Philta vice president and Phl Davis Cup team administrator Randy Villanueva said the Kiwis, who are scheduled to arrive last night, are sending their best team with three of their players ranked inside the top 1,000.
"This is the strongest New Zealand team we're facing," said Villanueva.
Gonzales is the highest ranked Filipino singles player at 1,001st, which pales in comparisong to Venus, Sitak and Daniell, who are ranked 373rd, 447th and 590th, respectively.
Huey though is way ahead in men's doubles as he is currently ranked 32nd in the world in the Association of Tennis Professionals.
Huey has also made history by making the quarterfinals of the US Open after he partnered with Great Britain's Dominic Inglot in pulling the rug from under third seed Marcel Granollers and Marc Lopez of Spain, 7-6 (2), 6-0, at the Arthur Ashe Stadium the other day
Huey and Inglot are playing 10th seed Ivan Dodig of Croatia and Marcelo Melo of Brazil at press time for a spot in the semis.