Davis Cuppers eye sweep vs Sri Lankans

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Davis Cup team coach Karl Sta. Maria wants his wards to finish off Sri Lanka right in the second day of their Asia/Oceania Group II tie and avoid the specter of going through a wringer.

The Filipinos and the Sri Lankans begin their duel tomorrow at the Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City with the winner gaining a crack at a spot in Group I next year. ( Related story on A-20

“Our hopes is clinching the tie on the second day because we don’t want to face complications in the third and final day,” said Sta. Maria, who boasts of one of the strongest Phl teams ever-assembled for the event.

Bannered by Fil-Am Treat Huey, that team also includes Ruben Gonzalez, Patrick John Tierro and Francis Casey Alcantara.

Huey is coming off from a solid performance for the Manila Mavericks in the inaugural International Premier Tennis League late last year while Gonzalez won an ATP Challenger singles title last week in Mexico.

Alcantara is a doubles specialist who has an athletic scholarship at Pepperdine University, while Tierro is the highest ranked Filipino at No. 1,089 in the ITF ranking.

Sri Lanka, handled by former Swiss veteran Davis Cupper Dominik Utzinger, is composed of 19-year-old phenom Sharmal Dissanayake, Harsahana Godamanna, Dineshkantan Thangarajah and Sankha Atukarale. Non-playing captain is Rohan Silva.