Homegrowns shine in Davis Cup
Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) president Antonio Cablitas’ vision of prioritizing homegrown players to represent the country in the Davis Cup paid off handsome dividends as the national squad bowled over Indonesia, 4-1, in the first round of the Asia/Oceania Group II competitions at the Gelora Bung Karno complex in Jakarta last weekend.
“Our thrust is to make homegrown players competitive,” said Cablitas before leaving to cheer the team in Jakarta. “We’re not closing the door on Fil-Ams, however. We’re not against them. But our emphasis is to train our local boys, bring them up. Kung kapusin tayo, we can always go to our Fil-Ams.”
Cablitas said Fil-Ams Treat Huey and Ruben Gonzales were not considered for the Indonesia tie for different reasons. First, Philta wanted to give the locals first crack. Second, Huey couldn’t play because of injury. And third, Gonzales’ request for reimbursement of previous expenses with the national team is still under study by the PSC. Apparently, Huey and Gonzales advanced payment for airfares and other costs to represent the country and their requests for reimbursement remain pending.
It was found out that Philta secretarygeneral Romy Magat had written to both Huey and Gonzales advising they would not be included in this year’s Davis Cup tie against Indonesia because of financial constraints. Huey played at the recent Australian Open, teaming with Brazil’s Marcelo Demoliner in losing to Poland’s Marcin Matkowski and Pakistan’s Aisam Ul-Haq Qureshi, 7-6, 6-4, in the first round so he could’ve joined the Davis Cup team in Jakarta if Philta allowed it.
As for Gonzales, his request for reimbursement includes business class fares and side trips to other countries. The PSC isn’t inclined to pay him back for unauthorized expenses since only economy class fares with no side trips are accepted for reimbursement.
In Jakarta, the Philippines was represented by homegrowners A. J. Lim, 18, Niño Alcantara, 25, Jeson Patrombon, 24 and rookies Jurence Mendoza, 21 and Bryan Otico, 18. Lim accounted for two singles wins over Muhammad Dhaifullah, 6-3, 6-2 and David Susanto, 6-3, 6-4. Alcantara and Mendoza combined to down Justin Barki and Susanto 7-6, 6-3 while Otico trounced Anthony Susanto, 6-3, 6-3. The only stain was Patrombon’s 6-2, 7-5 loss to David Susanto. The Philippines moves on to play Thailand, a 3-2 winner over Sri Lanka, in the second round here on April 7-8.
In the women’s side, the Philippines also delivered in Pool B of the Asia/ Oceania Group II zone of the Federation Cup in Bahrain. Last Tuesday, the Philippines opened the three-way, round-robin tournament with a 2-1 victory over Kyrgyzstan as Marian Capadocia downed Saara Kunakunova, 6-1, 6-2 and Katharina Lehnert teamed with Anna Clarice Patrimonio to defeat Kanykey Koichumanova and Ksenia Palkin, 6-4, 6-3. The loss was pinned by Palkin on Lehnert in singles, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5. The Philippines will next play Singapore today. If the Philippines wins, it will advance to Group I.
Philippine Tennis Academy (PTA) cofounder and moving spirit Rommie Chan yesterday applauded the efforts of the national team in the tie against Indonesia. “Noteworthy that out of five players, four have links to PTA, some longer than others,” he said. “Niño grew up with us since he was 12. AJ and Jurence were the very first recruits of PTA. AJ left early at the behest of his dad. Jurence was steered to his first ITF junior win in Vietnam and finals of the PCA as a teener by PTA coaches Jun Toledo and Ken Salvo. Bryan started with us at 13 and recently won his first PCA title and Davis Cup match.”
In the Federation Cup, Chan said two of the Philippine players also trace roots to PTA. “Marian’s formative years from 12 to 15 were spent with us while Khim Iglupas, who’s also on the team, has been with us since she was 13,” he said. “We have achieved our goals as PTA to provide core members of national junior teams and inspire many kids with similarly difficult backgrounds to scale new heights. But these players far exceeded our objectives. They are now members of men’s and ladies teams while in their teens. Something to be truly happy and proud of.”
Meanwhile, Unified Tennis Philippines (UTF) president Jean Henri Lhuillier has reminded Philta that the International Tennis Federation (ITF) is still expecting a full response to issues raised by ITF president David Haggerty, including the amendment of By-Laws, submission of reports on activities and accomplishments over the last three years.