1 day Ago By Ariel Ian Clarito
MANILA, Philippines – After over four years of absence, the Philippines finally returns to Davis Cup action. Due to the country’s inactivity, however, the Philippines has been relegated to the lowest group of the tournament from November 20-23 at the hard courts of the Polytechnic University in Isa Town, Bahrain. Fielding a veteran roster, the Philippines needs to finish in the top two out of 15 countries in Group V to gain promotion to Group IV.
The last time the country played in the Davis Cup was when it hosted a World Group II encounter in March 2020 in Manila, losing to then world No. 6 Stefanos Tsitsipas and Greece, 4-1. Four of the players in that team which faced Greece banner the Philippines’ campaign this week in Bahrain — AJ Lim and Eric Olivarez, who are expected to play singles, and veteran doubles specialists Francis Casey Alcantara and Ruben Gonzales.
Rounding out the squad is longtime national team member PJ Tierro. Lim has been playing in the ITF singles tour this year, while Alcantara, who reached a career-high world ranking of 162 earlier this year, is fresh off a quarterfinal finish in the ATP Paine Schwartz Partners Challenger in Champaign, United States. Gonzales, once ranked 116th in the world in doubles, is back after sitting out the tour since January because of an injury.
Alcantara and Gonzales won the 2023 SEA Games men’s doubles gold medal. “I am very happy to be back and represent the Philippines again in the Davis Cup. Everyone is eager and determined to give their best and secure a win,” Alcantara told Rappler.
“I am also very happy to see Ruben compete again after his long break from an injury. I hope we do well in all our matches there so that I have a good ending to my season and help me prepare for next year’s campaign.” In a bid to further boost the country’s chances to advance from Group V, the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) has chosen one of the best players the Philippines has ever produced, Joseph Lizardo, to captain the team.
The former Philippine No. 1 player and veteran Davis Cupper has been based in California where he works as a tennis coach. But the Filipinos brace for a tough challenge as they mix it up against Turkmenistan, Mongolia, and Macau in Group B.
Other countries seeing action are Pool A’s Brunei, Guam, and Nepal; Pool C’s Laos, Maldives, Bhutan, and Northern Marianas Islands; and Pool D’s Bahrain, Bangladesh, Tajikistan, and Yemen. The Philippines returned to Davis Cup action after Philta served a suspension issued by the International Tennis Federation (ITF), the sport’s world governing body, in December 2020 due to governance issues. Early this year, the country got reinstated after complying with ITF requirements and electing a new set of officers.
– Rappler.com.
