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[LVL]

From Manila Bulletin By WILLIE B. CABALLES

A LONG, bumpy road will be traversed by the Philippines in its campaign to regain its former seat in the elite Group I of Davis Cup competitions in the Asia-Oceania Zone.

The Philippine team, which last played in Group I competitions in 1995 and to be manned by Cecil Mamiit, Eric Taino, PJ Tierro and Johnny Arcilla, was drawn to meet top seed Pakistan in the first round of Group II competitions which the country will host on Feb. 9 to 11.

An upset win over the Pakistanis will set up the locals against the winner of the New Zealand-Pacific Oceania tie on April 6 to 8.

The winner of this second round tie will then meet the winner of the lower bracket of the draw, composed of second seed Indonesia, Iran, Kuwait and Hong Kong, on Sept. 21 to 23 for the Group title and a promotion to group I next year..

A loss to Pakistan will see the Philippines being pushed to the relegation tie against the loser of the New Zealand-Pacific Oceania tie with the losing nation being demoted to Group III next year.

The Philippines, behind Mamiit and Taino, ruled the Group III competitions last year at the Manila Polo Club to claim a Group II berth..

Mamiit, the 30-year-old Fil-American from Laguna but based in Los Angeles, had a highest ranking of 189 by the Association of Tennis Professionals, while the 31-year-old Taino, also a Fil-American based in New Jersey, is ranked 468th . Both won all their previous six Davis Cup matches.

Tierro, the youngest in the RP team at 21, is ranked 768th in the world and has won eight of his nine Davis Cup matches.

Arcilla, 26, is the most veteran Davis Cupper in the team having played 35 matches and winning 20 of them in previous campaigns. He is not ranked by the ATP.

The Pakistanis - Aisam Qureshi, Aqeel Khan, Asim Shafik and Jalil Khan - lost all three of their Group I ties last year and were demoted to group II this year.

Qureshi, 26, is ranked No. 390 in singles and 382 in doubles by the Association of Tennis Professionals. He won 33 of his 49 singles and doubles matches in his Davis Cup campaigns.

Aqueel, who will turn 27 on Jan. 30, is ranked No. 514 in the world and has played 47 Davis Cup singles and doubles matches.

Shafik is the eldest player in the Pakistani team at 31 and while unranked by the ATP, has played 21 Davis Cup matches.

Jalil is the youngest at 25 and is the most inexperienced among the Pakistanis having lost all his three Davis Cup matches.

Pakistan reached the World Group playoffs for the first time in 2005 but lost to Chile while the Filipinos, behind the exploits of Felix Barrientos, and Roland So topped the Zone in 1991.

The winner of Group II will be promoted to Group I next year while the loser in the relegation matches of group I will be demoted to group II.

[luxilionwave]

This is one great match we shouldn't miss. Let's support the Philippine Team! C'mon guys ,our team have a shot in this! Pakistan is a formidable team albeit beatable.

[Francis]

Saan gaganapin ito? Sa Rizal ba?

[LVL]

Hi Francis!  Papatanong natin.  Last time vs. Group III countries, the matches were held sa Manila Polo Club.  Will post dito once ma confirm ko yung venue.  Agree ako kay Lux, full support tayo dito.  Dapat ma maximize natin ang home court advantage!

[Mapuan]

Manila Polo Club is a great venue for this event. Will it be free to the public?

[SLP888]

The Venue is at Rizal Memorial for sure because Mamiit and Taino prepare to play hardcourt if our local will play then it will be at PCA. We have a big chance for this tie so the PTO members should organize a cheering squad to support the Davis Cup team. Vamos! Filipinos!

[dreamer]

for sure I'm gonna watch and cheer for the Philippines dahil malaki ang chances natin makabalik sa Division I next year.

[Mapuan]

dapat talaga may GEB tayo sa laban ng pinas against pakistan. we should also develop our young players in order to sustain whatever we might gain this coming davis cup.

[LVL]

PTO, let us have a show of force sa tie between Philippines and Pakistan....!

[luxilionwave]

Why not a team shirt for Philippine Tennis Online supporters to show that there is a sixth man behind Philippine tennis led by LVL, SLP etc...? Just a suggestion.

[Francis]

Ok sa kin to organize an EB para sa laban ng Pinas. Since I work monday through friday, di siguro ako makaka-attend ng feb 9 pero pwede ako sa feb 10 and 11 which fall on a weekend.

Team shirt for philippine tennis online to show support for team philippines? Why not? 

To those who know the schedule, paki-post naman kung saan ang venue (sure na ba sa Rizal?), pati na rin ang time kung anong oras ang mga matches.

[LVL]

Wonderful suggestion! Any graphics artists at PTO who can help to design our logo?  Will talk to some people who can help in soliciting the funds for printing costs.  Since malapit na yung 1st week of February, we can just probably agree to wear same color shirts to identify us as PTO members/friends/Phil. tennis supporters.  red, yellow, white or blue?

[Francis]

I vote for Blue! 

[pedrolabasulo]

mga bro, just come with a T-shirt design and let me know the budget for the shirts, i might  handle the costings   

sana maganda, yun pedeng pang porma hehehe

makaka abot pa kaya sa sked?

[SLP888]

That's a good Idea, I really want to join you guys to cheer the team philippines but I'm out of town. Try to contact COCO, he is good at cheering. He was our cheerleader during my time. If I can help in the other way I am very much willing! Mabuhay ang Philippine Tennis!

[dreamer]

Mas maganda RED, BLUE and White para talagang Filipino ang dating! Sama ako dyan!

[Admin_Jong]

sama rin ako... try kong gawa ng logo.. blue rin ako  woot.. hehe

[LVL]

Many many thanks Don Pedro!  Talagang wala kang paglagyan ng kayamanan mo...!  We at PTO are very very grateful that we have you as one of our benefactors.  Many many thanks din SLP888!  Sana andito ka.  If you were here, ang lakas ng hatak natin lalo.  By the way, yung kasama mo sa Philippine Team (nasa Judo sya) na Chabacano named F. De Guzman is sending you his regards.  His daughter is also playing in the age groups.  Will get in touch with Coco once we have the details of the games.  Thanks for all your support!  Mabuhay kayo!  Mabuhay ang PTO! 

[Francis]

Mas maganda RED, BLUE and White para talagang Filipino ang dating! Sama ako dyan!

This combination is also a great idea! 

[Francis]

BTW, saan na ang venue ng tie na ito?
Rizal Memorial or Manila Polo Club?

[lovemeanszero]

pwede siguro hubad na lang tapos may body paint tayo hehe...astig yun! guys kahit may banner lang tayo ok na, so i know where to sit in the tournament. See you there!

p.s. I heard sa Rizal daw gaganapin and may entrance na P50. Best match to watch on Feb 9 and the reverse single on sun. but of course we have to cheer for the doubles too

[LVL]

Basta naka red or white or blue, PTO yun... dun tayo.  Text ko si Coco.  Lovemeanszero, if you have the means to get the details ng games i.e. time, date, etc. post mo lang please.  Magkodakan tayo dun....dala tayo camera.

[LVL]

The PHILIPPINES VS. PAKISTAN DAVIS CUP TIE sked are as follows:
 
February 9, 2007
1st Single Match -  10:00  a.m.
2nd Singles Match - to follow
 
February 10,  2007
Doubles Match - 1:00 p.m.
 
February 11, 2007
1st Reverse Singles Match - 10:00 a.m.
2nd Reverse Singles Match - to follow
 
 Entrance is "FREE" at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center in Vito Cruz,  Manila.   Please bring your whole family and invite friends to cheer for the Philippine Davis Cup Team  (Cecil Mamiit,  Eric Taino,  Patrick John Tierro & Johnny Arcilla).  It would help if you could also bring miniature flags of the Philippines to wave around at the stadium.  PTO members can wear either red, blue, or white. 
 

[Francis]

Thank you very much for the info.
I'll invite as many friends as I can.
I'll have the info printed as well so I can post it on our club's bulletin board.

[SLP888]

Good Luck Guys! It's really having fun and enjoyable to cheer for due to the big advantage of the TEAM PHILIPPINES. If you haven't witness a davis cup match it's really different to a regular tennis tournament. It's your opportunity to watch and cheers the exciting tennis match and your support will energized our players. Mabuhay!

[Mapuan]

kelangan mapagdesisyonan na natin kung ano talaga ang kulay na isusuot. i 'm so excited for this competition.

[LVL]

Hi all!  Please do not forget to watch the games at the Rizal Memorial this coming Friday!  Let us show support for Philippine Tennis and for our very own, Mamiit, Taino, Arcilla, Tierro.  See you there!  Come in either Red, white, blue or yellow.  Colors ng Philippine flag. 

[Jun9195]

Sa February 11 ako makakapunta. Kasi every Saturdays, me pasok pa kami ng half-day. Sa hapon naman, tennis sessions namin. Di bale na, sa Feb. 11 naman, whole day akong manunuod ng laro. Sana mameet ko yung mga members ng Philippine Tennis Online.

[luxilionwave]

Guys, Lets make it fun!  Dare to predict, anyone!  My prediction.... a win for Philippines 3-2 , Mamiit winning both singles and doubles.

[Mapuan]

saturday lang ako makakapunta.

i predict that it'll be 5-0... hahaha very bias.

[dreamer]

Luxilionwave, akala ko malakas ang wave mo mahina ka pala. 5 - 0 for Philippines dahil hindi maglalaro yung number one ng Pakistan. Tingnan mo ang lineup ng Pakistan kahit na yung panahon ninyo ang maglaro mananalo kayo. For sure kilala mo ang Captain ng Philippine Team. He is not supposed to be there dahil he has no experience in Davis Cup. If you are a Tennis fanatics He is supposed to be there or not? If you can answer this then welcome to the world of Philippine Tennis.

[luxilionwave]

Dreamer, LOL, You got me there! If No.1 doesn't play then it'll be 4-1(Phil) or 5-0(Phil.) As for the team captain , what can I say that's Philippine tennis politics...   Anyway, I do not doubt Mamiit and Taino's abilities with or without the team captain.  

[pedrolabasulo]

hirap mag predict... nd ko pa nakita laro ng mga pakistanis

3-2 nalang ako phils

[Jun9195]

Ako din, predict na din ako, 5-0 Philippines. Sana korek ako, hehehe.

[luxilionwave]

Luxilionwave, akala ko malakas ang wave mo mahina ka pala. 5 - 0 for Philippines dahil hindi maglalaro yung number one ng Pakistan. Tingnan mo ang lineup ng Pakistan kahit na yung panahon ninyo ang maglaro mananalo kayo. For sure kilala mo ang Captain ng Philippine Team. He is not supposed to be there dahil he has no experience in Davis Cup. If you are a Tennis fanatics He is supposed to be there or not? If you can answer this then welcome to the world of Philippine Tennis.

According to Inquirer news, Pakistan #1 is playing so this is not going to be a walk in the park for Phil. I still stick to 3-2 Philippines with Mamiit winning singles and doubles.

[luxilionwave]

Correction, that was according to Philippine Star...

[LVL]

Mamiit says RP ready for war in Davis Cup
By Joaquin Henson
The Philippine Star 02/05/2007

Reigning Southeast Asian (SEA) Games singles tennis champion Cecil Mamiit said yesterday the Philippines will lean on its homecourt advantage for the down-the-stretch edge against Pakistan in a first round Group II tie of the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania zone at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

"Our chances are 50-50 but with our homecourt advantage, it’ll be 60-40 in our favor," said Mamiit. "Pakistan is the top seed in Group II and we’ve got our work cut out for us. Pakistan has a rich Davis Cup history with wins over Thailand with Paradorn Srichapan and Taiwan. But Pakistan didn’t medal in the Doha Asian Games and we did. If we play smart, we should be able to pull through. We’re ready for war."

The draw for the tie will be held Wednesday at the Century Park Hotel. The matches start Friday.

Joining Mamiit in the Philippine team are Eric Taino, Johnny Arcilla and P. J. Tierro.

The Pakistan squad is composed of Aisam Qureshi, Aqeel Khan, Asim Shafik and Jalil Khan.

Mamiit said he played Pakistan’s No. 1 player Qureshi in a US Open qualifier five years ago and lost a 7-5, 7-5 decision that he considered inconclusive. When they square off this weekend, Mamiit said he’ll be out for revenge.

"I had no idea who he was when we played," said Mamiit. "My mind wasn’t on the game because I was frustrated at the way I was being treated by the USTA (United States Tennis Association). I was ranked No. 106 in the world but the USTA couldn’t enter me in the US Open as a wildcard. But no excuses, I lost a close one to Qureshi. And I’m looking forward to playing him again in Manila."

Qureshi, 26, boasts a 33-16 win-loss Davis Cup record since 1998. He led Pakistan to the brink of elevation into the elite level two years ago as the team beat Thailand and Taiwan in Group I before bowing to Chile in a World Group playoff. Qureshi is remembered for extending Paradorn in losing a 6-7, 7-6, 4-6, 7-5, 12-10 marathon in Asia/Oceania zone Group II action in 1998.

Mamiit, 30, has not lost in six Davis Cup matches, dropping only a set to Vietnam’s Minh Quan Do. He was once ranked No. 72 in the world and stayed in the top 100 for five years. Mamiit has qualified to play in the four Grand Slam events and lists Andre Agassi, Michael Chang (twice), Todd Martin and Mark Woodforde among his victims.

SEA Games tennis tournament organizer Randy Villanueva said the Rizal hardcourts were recently resurfaced to guarantee high-level hostilities in the tie. Mamiit said the courts, described as "medium-slow," approximate the quality of the surface at the US Open.

"We cleaned up the courts and used a mix of silica sand and mini-fibers in the paint," said Villanueva. "The surface is like sandpaper. We know Pakistan prefers a grassy-like surface because of their serve-and-volley game but the trend in world tennis is to use slower courts to make the game more exciting and entertaining. If the courts are too fast, the game tends to be boring because the points are short and the players end up just exchanging big serves."

Mamiit said playing in the Davis Cup is a dream come true. "It’s the highlight of a player’s career just as John McEnroe used to say," added Mamiit. "The best players participate and make time for it. It’s part of the tour. To represent your country is a matter of personal pride."

Mamiit said wearing the Philippine colors is a boost to his career.

"It gives me a reason to continue playing," said Mamiit. "It makes me feel young and energetic. I want to be able to pave the way for the development of more Filipino players. My goal is to open up opportunities for the next wave of players. This is for the Philippines. If I can continue playing at a high level, I hope to qualify for the Olympics and peak in time for the next Asian Games in 2010."

The winner of the Philippines-Pakistan tie plays the New Zealand-Pacific Oceania survivor in the second round on April 6-8. The countries that survive the second round will play for the right to advance to Group I on Sept. 21-23.

The Philippines will only host the Pakistan tie in the Davis Cup this year. If it beats Pakistan, the Philippines will play the rest of its Davis Cup schedule abroad.

[LVL]

Embracing Cecil and Eric

By Ronnie Nathanielsz

THEIR spirits lifted by the fact that Filipino fans embraced them when they carried the country’s colors with distinction in the 2005 Southeast Asian Games and buoyed by the two bronze medals won at the Asian Games in Doha last December, the exuberant Cecil Mamiit and soft-spoken lefty Eric Taino have come home to battle no. 1 seed Pakistan in a crucial Davis Cup Tie set from Feb. 9 to 11 in Manila.

Viva Sports will team up with NBN 4 to telecast the matches on a same-day delayed basis over Channel 4 nationwide with a replay over the sports and entertainment cable channel Viva Prime.

As in most sports, there is the usual hometown advantage and to what extent it could be managed to help the host nation is important. The Pakistanis, who often play on grass courts and hard surfaces, depend primarily on a serve-and-volley game and the obvious tactic, would be to develop a surface that is comparatively slow and would better suit the game of Mamiit and Taino, who are the Philippines’ top two singles players.

Mamiit, in particular, favors a slower surface and after a practice session on Thursday, was obviously pleased with the playing court. “The courts are slow and in our favor and looks really nice. Unbelievable.”

Former junior tennis star Randy Villanueva, who re-surfaced the two courts, said they were now a bit slower and would probably help Mamiit against the powerful game of Pakistan’s deadly duo Aisam Qureshi and Aqeel Khan.

Villanueva noted that the Pakistanis like to rush the net a lot and the slower hardcourt will suit the game of Mamiit, who is the country’s no. 1 singles player.

He said the tie against Pakistan is “the single most important this year and we are lucky that we are playing them in the Philippines, because it would be almost impossible to beat them in Pakistan,” primarily because of the grass courts they play on.

A well-known name on the international circuit, Ajay Pathak, who has been a Davis Cup administrator since 1988 and makes his home in the Philippines, warned that Pakistan, led by Qureshi and Khan, are a very good team, having dropped down from Group 1. He noted that the handsome Qureshi scored sensational Davis Cup victories over Thailand’s world-ranked star Paradorn Srichaphan and 2006 Asian Games men’s singles champion Danai Udomchoke in Pakistan’s Davis Cup clashes with Thailand.

In September 1998, on the grass courts of the Lahore Gymkhana Club, Qureshi defeated Udomchoke in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3 and 6-3, but lost to Srichapan in a five-set classic, 7-6. 6-7, 6-4, 5-7, 10-12.

But Qureshi avenged the defeat to the Thai ace with a 7-5,2-6.6-4,6-4 win after taking the opening singles against Udomchoke, 6-2, 7-5, 6-7, 7-6, and teaming up with Khan to whip the tandem of Srichapan and Udomchoke, 6-4, 5-7, 6-2, 7-6 at the same venue in 2005.

Pathak believes that Mamiit’s strength is that he never gives up and is very dedicated towards bringing the team up there.

“He is very capable and has had some very big wins in his life [over Andre Agassi and Michael Chang among others] and wants to make sure we go into group 1,” Pathak said, adding Mamiit’s bronze-medal finish in the Doha Asian Games “probably pepped him up a bit”.

While he said he wasn’t underestimating Pakistan’s doubles team of Qureshi and Aqeel, Pathak was confident that the Philippines’ doubles team of Mamiit and Taino is certainly superior but cautioned that “we should not underestimate Pakistan.”

Taino is a veteran of the ATP Tour and according to Pathak, “knows how to handle tough situations” which is an added plus.

Under Davis Cup rules, the no. 1 plays the no. 2 and Pathak believes that if Taino can upset Qureshi, “then, we have a huge, huge advantage, also mentally. Because if our no. 2 beats their no.1, it will put a lot of pressure on them.”

Pathak describes Taino as a “serve and volley type and he could explode.”

Regarded in his youth as the hottest member of the UCLA men’s tennis team under coach Billy Martin, Taino, in an article by Mark Shapiro in the Daily Bruin in February 1996, wrote he had “taken his all-court game and turned his weaknesses into strengths. A forehand that had troubled him in the past is now a reliable offensive weapon. Stodgy footwork that hampered his movement has turned into flowing court coverage and volleys that were inconsistent have become a penetrating force.” Martin added: “He’s moving better, his shot selection is better and he’s definitely volleying better and his backhand is a pro level shot.”

An ESPN story on the US Open in 2001 said that although Taino, who was ranked no. 163 in singles at that time, lost a four-setter to the no. 22 seed Andrei Pavel, “the mere fact that the two-time All-American was playing in his first Grand Slam singles match in his four-year professional career proves he belongs on the tour.”

Taino won the US Open junior doubles title in 1992 before going to UCLA.

In fact, he had a superb senior year, posting a 28-7 overall record with a 14-match winning streak and a no. 10 ranking in the US.

Taino has some impressive victories to his name. In July 1999, in Los Angeles, Taino beat India’s fancied Leander Paes, 7-6, 6-1, and in October 2000, out-hustled Vincent Spadea, 6-3, 7-5 in Tokyo. In July 2003, Taino scored an impressive 3-6, 6-3, 7-5 win over Michael Chang in Indianapolis.

The 31-year-old Taino was born in Jersey City, New Jersey. His father Phil Taino was a medical technologist in a New Jersey hospital. Taino is currently ranked 472 in singles and 545 in doubles, but is coming off a highly successful stint in the Asia-Oceania Group III playoff round-robin played at the Manila Polo Club. He won all five singles matches, dropping only one set to Saudi Arabia’s Fahad Al Saad. As Mamiit himself said: “Eric can pull off an upset, who knows? It will depend on the draw on Wednesday. He will probably set the tone and anything can happen in different scenarios.”

But the scenario, if not the hopes of Pathak, is that Mamiit will win his two singles matches and partnering Taino we win the doubles. While Pathak concedes that the Rizal Memorial surface will be an advantage to the Filipinos, he cautions that while Qureshi and Khan “are more at home on grass, they play the international circuit so they have played on hardcourts.”

Mamiit, who is 30, was born in Los Angeles, also of Filipino parents. His father was from Alaminos, Laguna and his mother from Sariaya, Quezon. Mamiit is currently ranked no. 193 in singles and 125 in doubles. He, too, is riding the crest of a clean sweep in the Davis Cup Group III matches, also dropping just one set against Minh Quan Do of Vietnam.

Mamiit’s career highlights were clearly his victories over Andre Agassi and Michael Chang. His win over Agassi came at the Sybase Open in San Jose, California in 1999 when Agassi was thrown out after cursing three times in a row. Agassi breezed through the first set, 6-0, but Mamiit clawed back to take a 4-0 lead in the second before the temperamental American was ejected after leveling the count at 6-6 and ignoring several warnings from the umpire.

Mamiit followed up his Round of 16 victory over Agassi with a big win over Chang, who was in fact his hero. Mamiit, who was the 1996 US collegiate champion, served with authority throughout the match to win, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, in the semifinals and faced big-serving Mark Philippoussis in the finals. Mamiit scored another big win over Chang in Tokyo in October 2000, winning 7-5, 6-4 in the Round of 32.

One of Mamiit’s biggest wins in recent years was his victory in both the singles and doubles at the ATP Challengers $50,000 tournament in New Orleans, Louisiana . The 2005 SEA Games champion blasted his opponents without losing a set, whipping top-seed Amer Delic of the US, 6-3, 7-6 in the finals and then teamed up with Sam Warburg to demolish Chris Drake and David Martin, 7-6, 6-1, to take the doubles title.

Mamiit gave the Philippines its first medal in Asian Games tennis in 40 years by defeating Chinese Taipei’s Wang Yeu Tzuoo in the quarterfinals of the men’s singles, showing his fighting heart by coming back from a 2-6 loss in the opening set to take the next two by identical scores of 6-2, 6-2.

[baludoy]

will be there  most probably on saturday.  sino nga ba ang non-playing captain natin? si tecson pa rin ba?

[makinao]

Pwede bang magdala ng drums at ibang noisemakers? I was thinking of bringing pero baka may magsita lang ako, kagaya ng nangyari sa akin sa UAAP. I've seen that kind of thing sa south America and Europe Davis Cup ties kasi.

[SLP888]

All PTO members don't miss this exciting matches. you can bring any tools for cheering as long as you will do it during change court. Based on my experience, home advantage is the deciding factor. Bakit hindi si Roland So ang Captain? Why? Martin Misa! Philta sobra na talaga! Beeyong Sison is there active in Philippines. Raymund Suarez also, this guys are former Davis cuppers and have experience.

[Mapuan]

All PTO members don't miss this exciting matches. you can bring any tools for cheering as long as you will do it during change court. Based on my experience, home advantage is the deciding factor. Bakit hindi si Roland So ang Captain? Why? Martin Misa! Philta sobra na talaga! Beeyong Sison is there active in Philippines. Raymund Suarez also, this guys are former Davis cuppers and have experience.

Non-playing naman ang captain so it doesn't matter. The thing is the best possible pinoy players ang maglalaro.

[LVL]

 RP Davis Cuppers vs Pakistanis
(from Journal Online)

INAASAHAN ang pag-angat ng Philippine Davis Cup team ngayong taon.
   
Sa pagkakaroon ng dalawang subok nang Fil-Americans at dalawang matatag na locals, ang RP team ay inaasahang magniningning laban sa Pakistan sa kanilang Asia-Oceania Zone Group 2 tie na nakatakda ngayong weekend.
   
Makakasagupa ng mga Pinoy, na kinabibilangan nina SEA Games gold medalists Cecil Mamiit, Eric Taino, PJ Tierro at Johnny Arcilla, ang ma-panganib na Pakistanis sa pagpapatuloy ng kanilang kampanyang makabalik sa Group 1 sa susunod na taon.
   
Gayunman, ang Pakistanis ay hindi madaling kalaban dahil kagagaling lamang nila sa Group 1. Dahil dito, ang mga Pinoy, sa papel, ay underdogs para sa tie set sa Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
   
Ang drawing of lots ay nakatakda bukas sa Cen-tury Park Hotel. Ang unang dalawang singles matches ay lalaruin sa Biyernes, ang  doubles ay sa Sabado at sa Linggo ang reverse singles.
   
Libre ang admission, at ang mga Pinoy, na gaga-bayan nina  Martin Misa at Raymond Suarez, ay uma-asa ng parehong crowd support na kanilang tinanggap noong 2005 Manila SEA Games.
   
“It’s getting closer each year,” wika ng 29-anyos na si Mamiit, patungkol sa determinadong kampanya ng koponan para sa  Group 1 slot sa susunod na taon.

“This is the progress of Philippine tennis. The excitement is building up.”
   
“We’re at a very high level right now. We’re out to make a statement we’re in good shape we’re eager, we’re hungry,” dagdag ni Mamiit, ranked No. 180 sa buong mundo, sa PSA Forum sa main function room ng Pantalan Restau-rant sa Manila.
   
“We expect a lot of big things this year and hopefully this is the start. We’re hoping that the people will support us,” pahayag naman ni Taino, sa edad na 31 ay nasa ka-sagsagan ng kanyang ca-reer, sa session na itinataguyod ng PAGCOR at nina Manila Mayor Lito Atienza at Manil Sports Council (MASCO) chief Arnold `Ali’ Atienza.
   
Ang iba pang Asia-Oceania Zone Group 2 teams ay ang New Zealand, Iran, Kuwait, Hong Kong at Indonesia.
   
Ang Pakistani squad ay binubuo nina Aqeel Khan, Jalil Khan, Yasir Khan at Asim Shafik. Ang head coach ay si Hamid Ul Haq at team manager si Iftikhar Ahmad Rao.   
   
Ayon kay Misa, ang long-time coach ng RP Davis Cup team, umaasa siya ng magandang laban kontra sa Pakistanis na inilarawan niya bilang “a very good team to play against.”

[LVL]

RP-Pakistan Davis Cup tie draw today
(Manila Bulletin)


THE DRAW for the Asia-Oceania Zone Group II first round tie in Davis Cup competitions between the Philippines and Pakistan will be held at the Century Park Hotel today.

The draw, to be officiated by neutral referee Chen Shu from China, is set at 10 a.m. at the Corregidor A Room at the upper lobby where the protagonists for the best-offive matches tie’s will be known.

The opening singles matches will be played tomorrow at the Rizal memorial Tennis Center with the doubles set on Saturday and the reverse singles on Sunday.

Expected to be fielded in by the Philippines in the singles are Fil-Americans Cecil Mamiit and Eric Taino. The Pakistanis are expected to nominate Aqeel Khan and Jalil Khan as their singles players.

Chung is the reigning PCA Open champion having routed Arcilla, 6-0, 6-1, 6-0, in the finals in October last year.

Also in the Philippine squad coached by non-playing captain Martin Misa are players Jpatrick John Tierro and Johnny Arcilla.

Misa said he expects good matches against the Pakistanis whom he described as a very good team to play gainst.

Completing the Pakistani team are players Yasir Khan and Asim Shafik, Head Coach Hamid Ul Haq and Team Manager Iftikhar Ahmad Rao.

The Pakistanis were demoted to Group II after losing theiur Group I ties last year while the Philippines was promoted to Group II after sweeping the group III competitions last year at the Manila Polo Club.

The winner in this tie will advance to the second round against the winner between the Pacific Oceania-New Zealand tie while the loser will slide down to a relegation tie against the loser of the same OceaniaNew Zealand with the loser being demoted to Group III next year. —Willie CABALLES

[SLP888]

All PTO members don't miss this exciting matches. you can bring any tools for cheering as long as you will do it during change court. Based on my experience, home advantage is the deciding factor. Bakit hindi si Roland So ang Captain? Why? Martin Misa! Philta sobra na talaga! Beeyong Sison is there active in Philippines. Raymund Suarez also, this guys are former Davis cuppers and have experience.

Non-playing naman ang captain so it doesn't matter. The thing is the best possible pinoy players ang maglalaro.

If you don't have experience in Davis Cup, it doesn't matter the captain but if you really know the meaning Captain which control the whole team. There's pride on it that makes the team more strong. If your captain has no pride then sorry to say! We have a big chances because Querise the no. 1 of pakistan is not playing.

[dreamer]

I told you guys 5 -0 is a big chance. Punta ako bukas dahil mananalo tayo, he! he! he!he!

[LVL]

Pinagdarasal ko na maka 5-0 tayo.  I'm wearing blue!!!!!Go Philippines!!!!!

[Francis]

Tapos na daw ang first match. Panalo si Mamiit in straight sets. He gave only 1 game to the Pakistani in the first set. The rest of the sets he gave him bagels.

NO MERCY!!! 

[Jun9195]

My friend from Rogerfederer.com texted me before lunch that Mamiit won, 6-1,6-0,6-1. She's there watching, I'll be meeting her for the first time sa Sunday. Hope to see u too guys.

[Francis]

Ooops.. akala ko dalawang bagels isa lang pala.
Talo daw si Eric Taino sa first set, 4-6.