Philta gets ready for Fed, Davis Cups

MANILA, Philippines - Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) vice president Randy Villanueva said the other day the country’s advance to Group 1 of the Asia/Oceania zone in the Federation Cup, the female version of the Davis Cup, was the highlight of this year’s tennis feats with Treat Huey’s participation in the recent ATP World Tour Finals another milestone.

Villanueva said the team of Katharina Lehnert, Clarice Patrimonio and Khim Iglupas powered the Philippines to a sweep of its Asia/Oceania Group 2 assignments in Thailand last May to return to Group 1 after a 10-year absence. The Philippines beat Iran, 3-0, Pacific Oceania, 2-1, Hong Kong, 2-1, Bahrain, 2-0 and Singapore 2-0 to join China, Thailand, India, Japan, Kazakhstan and Korea in Group 1 competition scheduled in Astana in February. The winner of the seven-team round-robin series will advance to the World Group 2 playoffs while the tailender will be relegated to Group 2.

The promotion was particularly sweet for Patrimonio, whose father Alvin is a PBA Hall of Famer. The 23-year-old right-hander has been a fixture on the Philippine team at the Federation Cup since 2011. In 2014, she represented the country with Marian Jade Capadocia as the Philippines was stopped by Hong Kong, 2-1, after repulsing Singapore, 3-0, Sri Lanka, 3-0 and Turkmenistan, 3-0. Last year, she was with Lehnert when the Philippines bowed to India, 2-1, after defeating Singapore, 3-0 and Indonesia, 2-1.

With the rookie Iglupas’ inclusion in the team, the Philippines wouldn’t be denied the promotion to Group 1 this year. The toughest tie was against Hong Kong but Iglupas, 18, and Lehnert, 22, came through in the singles. Iglupas tripped Wu Ho Ching, 6-4, 7-5 while Lehnert trounced Zhang Ling, 6-1, 6-4. Maggie Ng and Sher Chun Wing accounted for Hong Kong’s only win as they beat Patrimonio and Iglupas, 6-4, 7-5, in the inconsequential doubles match. Lehnert and Iglupas were unbeaten in four singles matches each in the five-tie sweep.

The Federation Cup was established in 1963 and the Philippines has been a constant participant since 1974. The Philippines’ best showing was making it to the top 16 in 1982. There are 99 countries that compete in the yearly event. The Philippines is ranked No. 37 and eight countries in the Asia/Oceania zone are higher in the ladder----No. 11 Australia, No. 16 Chinese-Taipei, No. 25 Thailand, No. 26 China, No. 27 Kazakhstan, No. 28 Japan, No. 34 Uzbekistan and No. 35 India.

In the Davis Cup, Villanueva said the goal is to break out of the Asia/Oceania Group 2 where the Philippines has been stuck for the last five years. The Philippines will host Indonesia to start its campaign in February. The winner of the tie will meet the Kuwait-Thailand survivor in the second round in April. The third round is scheduled in September. Only the winner of Group 2 will advance to Group 1.

This year was particularly painful for Filipino Cuppers Ruben Gonzales, Huey, Nino Alcantara and Jeson Patrombon. They whipped Kuwait, 5-0, in the first round then lost to Chinese-Taipei, 3-1, at home. Chinese-Taipei went on to beat Thailand, 3-2, to gain promotion to Group 1. Last year, Chinese-Taipei also defeated the Philippines, 3-1 after the Filipinos wiped out Sri Lanka, 5-0. P. J. Tierro was on the team with Gonzales, Huey, Alcantara and Patrombon.

Huey, 31, holds the Philippine record for most Davis Cup doubles wins with 14. He’s now ranked No. 22 in world doubles. Villanueva said Huey’s invitation to the recent ATP World Tour Finals was a first for a Filipino in tennis history. Huey and Belarus’ Max Mirnyi made it to the elite tournament where the world’s top eight teams with the most ATP points in the season are invited to play in the year-end competition.

Huey will continue to anchor the Davis Cup team. Gonzales, 31, Alcantara, 24 and Patrombon, 23 will likely return with Huey in February. The Asia/Oceania Group 2 countries are Pakistan, Iran, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines. The doormat will be relegated to Group 3 after the playoffs.

Villanueva said aside from the Federation and Davis Cups, the Philippines will be busy with the Southeast Asian Games next year. At the 2015 SEA Games, the Philippines collected a gold (Denise Dy and Huey in mixed doubles), three silvers and four bronzes to finish second overall to Thailand with six golds, two silvers and three bronzes. The team was made up of Huey, Gonzales, Alcantara, Patrombon, Lehnert, Patrimonio, Iglupas and Dy.

 “While we’re excited about moving forward with our elite players, our youth players are making a lot of progress,” said Villanueva. Among the promising youngsters are Iggy Pantino, 15, Diego Dalisay Garcia, 17, Bryan Otico, 17, A. J. Lim, 17, Shaira Rivera, 17 and University of Hawaii varsity player Roxanne Resma, 19.

Villanueva said Philta is set to hold elections on Jan. 17. Last May, Philta president Edwin Olivarez resigned after his reelection as Paranaque Mayor. His term was up to 2018. A snap election was conducted by the POC last July and former PSC commissioner Buddy Andrada, who had served as Philta president from 1986 to 2000, was voted to succeed Olivarez on the strength of seven ballots, including three proxies, of 12 members of the Board. International Tennis Federation president David Haggerty later flew to Manila to investigate allegations of poll-rigging and it was determined to hold another election in January.