RP netters face hot Japanese, chilly weather

Source: Philippine Star
The Philippine Davis Cup team arrived to a cool welcome in Osaka the other day and got a mild surprise when it was announced that host Japan had named veteran Toshihide Matsui to replace flu-stricken Hiroki Kondo in the first round of the Asia-Oceania Group I championships at the Namihaya Dome on March 5-7.

Despite the chilly weather, Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) vice president Randy Villanueva said he expects the four-man squad to be warmed up for the tie which will be held in an indoor stadium with a 6,000-seat capacity.

“The weather so far is fine, chilly and cool,” said Villanueva. “We anticipated it to be much colder. Team spirit is at a high. I think weather won’t be much of a factor. We’ll be playing in a controlled environment.”

Villanueva said the late switch in the Japanese lineup may or may not be significant. Kondo, 27, would’ve made his Davis Cup debut while Matsui, 31, previously saw action in 2006, winning a pair of no-bearing singles over China’s Peng Sun, 6-0, 4-6, 6-3, and Thailand’s Sonchai Ratiwatana, 6-3, 6-4.

Others in the Japanese cast are Tatsuma Ito, 21, Go Soeda, 25, and Takao Suzuki, 33. The Philippines is represented by Cecil Mamiit, 33, Treat Huey, 24, Johnny Arcilla, 30, and Nino Alcantara, 18.

The opposing coaches are the Philippines’ Chris Cuarto and Japan’s Eiji Takeuchi.

The winner of the Philippines-Japan tie will face the Australia-Chinese-Taipei survivor on May 7-9. If the Philippines upends Japan, it will need just one win in two more ties for the chance of reaching the World Group for the first time since 1991.

Mamiit told The Star that the key is getting the jump on Japan.

“Japan is favored to win with the homecourt advantage and depth so the pressure is all on them,” said Mamiit, once ranked No. 72 in the world. “We’re the underdogs. If we can put them on panic mode, then we can really do some damage. Treat’s addition has been a boost. We’ve been on a roll since he joined and he’s a great teammate. It will be a true test on how we perform away from Manila since our Davis Cup win over Hong Kong. I know the crowd will be hostile in Japan because the whole country really gets involved with their tennis players in the Davis Cup. It will be a joy and great experience.”

Mamiit said Japan, whose men’s team took the silver medal in the last Asian Games, poses a severe challenge but if the Philippines finds a way to win, it will deliver a strong statement to countries participating at the Asiad in Guanghzou in November.

“Our plan is always to get a quick 3-0,” continued Mamiit. “We’ve been winning by getting ahead quick, learning from experience from our last encounter in Group I. Every country has players who are ranked and playing full-time on the tour. We only have two who travel and play competitively on the tour year-round – myself and Treat.”

But Mamiit, a two-time Southeast Asian Games gold medalist, said he has high hopes that Arcilla and Alcantara will step up in case they’re tapped to see action. “If it possibly comes down to the end, I’m hoping that Johnny, with his experience in two tournaments in India and his play around the Philippines, might be a great hero,” he went on. “Then, maybe Nino might show his young talent from dominating at the junior ITF level. You never know. I know that both have been working hard and showing some new fire in their eyes. So we could have a fiery team that is hungry to shock the world.”

Mamiit said he has been working with a new coach, Julio Carluen, a former Philippine Davis Cupper.

“I’m well-rested from the Southeast Asian Games,” he said. “I’ve been training harder with the experience of what is to come, having to prepare myself for a possible three long matches, two singles and doubles, with no rest. I’ve been working on my game with Julio who has agreed to help me in whatever it takes to get me prepared. We have worked closely the last month. His dedication has given me some boost of motivation and focus on what hard task we have. We’ve developed a gameplan and a great relationship. It’s an exciting bond that hopefully, will show up during the tie. It’s all about getting into a good start in the first round. Anything can happen. I’m just glad I’ve been healthy for more than a year. It’s a very good sign, knock on wood.”

There are eight countries in the Asia-Oceania Group I bracket – Australia, Chinese-Taipei, China, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Japan and the Philippines. In 2008, the Philippines lost three ties in Group I to Japan, 0-5, Uzbekistan, 2-3, and Kazakhstan, 0-5, to drop to Group II. Last year, the Filipinos broke out of Group II to return to Group I after beating Hong Kong, 4-1, Pakistan, 3-2, and New Zealand, 4-1.