Gonzales, Arcilla face NZ top guns

LAPU LAPU CITY, Cebu – Fil-Am Ruben Gonzales and Johnny Arcilla hope to buck the odds  against the fancied New Zealand side in today’s singles matches to seize momentum early in the Asia-Oceania Davis Cup Group II promotional tie at the Plantation Bay Resorts and Spa here.

Lapu Lapu City administrator Teodolo Ibañez, in behalf of host Mayor Radaza Paz who is in Manila, picked the first singles match and drew the name of Kiwi No. 2 player Michael Venus in the rites graced by Philta vice president Randy Villanueva and secretary-general Romeo Magat and Plantation Bay Resorts and Spa vice president Efren Belarmino.

Gonzales will play Venus at 4 p.m. while Arcilla tangles with New Zealand No. 1 Jose Statham in the other singles match at 6 p.m.

“It doesn’t matter whether I play the first singles or the second, what’s important is that I have gained some experience and confidence in the Davis Cup,” said Gonzales, who celebrated his 28th birthday at this sprawling, 10.4-hectare venue by the sea.

Roland Kraut, the Phl’s non-playing captain, agrees.

“We’re happy that Ruben will play the first singles match and Johnny (Arcilla) as well because this is his 23rd Davis Cup match,” said Kraut.

Fil-Am Treat Conrad Huey and Francis Casey Alcantara will face off with Artem Sitak and Marcus Daniell in the doubles event scheduled at 6 p.m. tomorrow.

The reverse singles matches, if necessary, will pit the best of both teams – Gonzales versus Statham – and Arcilla against Venus although Huey could replace Arcilla at the last minute if the need arises.

The Filipinos’ Davis Cup campaign is backed by Cebuana Lhuillier owner and team manager Jean Henri Lhuillier with support from Smart, Yonex, Cebuana Lhuillier, Lapu Lapu City Mayor Paz, Jober Electronics, Plantation Bay vice president Belarmino and Phl Sports Commission.

Except for the so-called home-court advantage, odds are stacked against the hosts who will be facing off higher-ranked players in Statham and Venus, whose current world rankings of 293rd and 372nd are way better than Gonzales’ 933 and an unranked Arcilla.

But one thing going for Gonzales is that he had already beaten the 25-year-old Venus in two Futures events – one in the NCAA Division I match where Gonzales, who played for Illinois, beat the latter, who suited up for Louisiana State U, and another on clay court or the exact same surface here.

“We play the same style, strong serve, strong forehand but I’m more comfortable on this kind of surface,” said Gonzales, who have won all his singles matches this year – one against Syria last February and two versus Thailand last April.

Huey, 28, is also coming off an inspiring quarterfinal finish in the recent US Open in New York where he partnered with Dominic Inglot to become the first Filipino to reach the Last 8 of a Grand Slam event.

“We’re ready for the tie, ready to play in the doubles for sure,” said Huey, who is teaming up with Alcantara for the second time after the two downed Pruchya Isarow and Nuttanon Kadchapanan, 6-3, 6-3, 7-6 (4) in their historic win over the Thais.

“I’m confident of our chances, I saw how the players prepared and practiced for this tie especially after coming off our huge win over Thailand,” said Kraut.

The Filipinos still lead the Kiwis in their head-to-head duel, 3-2, but the latter prevailed in their last showdown two years ago, scoring a convincing 5-0 rout in their Group I relegation tie.

This time, however, the Filipinos vow to get back at the Kiwis.

“It was my first Davis Cup match I played so imagine how nervous I am,” said Gonzales, who lost to Statham, 4-6, 4-6, 4-6, and the doubles with former Phl No. 1 Cecil Mamiit to Daniell and Sitak, 6-7 (0), 3-6, 2-6.

The Filipinos also hope to get the most from the slow outdoor clay courts at the Plantation Bay Resorts and Spa and draw inspiration from the crowd.

Organizers, meanwhile, decided to hold games late in the afternoon and evening, virtually eliminating the weather factor.

New Zealand’s non-playing skipper Allistair Hunt said they’re ready for any kind of surfaces.

“It’s slow but my players are coming off different tournaments and surfaces so we’re relying on that,” said Hunt, whose team came 21 minutes late in the ceremonial drawing of lots.

A win by the Phl will send the hosts back to Group I and a chance to move closer to the elite World Group after getting demoted to Group II two years ago.