Davis Cup action resumes without PHL team

THE International Tennis Federation (ITF) barred the Philippines from fielding a team at the resumption of the Davis Cup Asia-oceania Group 3 competitions that start this week, thus disappointing national players particularly Treat Huey and Ruben Gonzales.

“It is embarrassing that the [national] federation has been suspended and we are not able to play Davis Cup this week,” Huey said. “It’s heart breaking that I don’t have the opportunity to represent the country this week and help us win and earn promotion to Group II.

“To have the team withdrawn from Davis Cup this year by the ITF because of the state of our federation is truly sad.” Huey added.

The suspension came after PHILTA continued to snub deadlines from ITF to submit reportorial requirements that should include plans for amending its constitution to increase membership and make the association more inclusive.

ITF President David Haggerty noted that the association is made up of an “exclusive membership base” which does not qualify PHILTA to be a national sporting federation.

The events that transpired also prompted Haggerty to ask PHILTA for its plan of action in diversifying its membership so that an election may take place.

Haggerty also noted that

national associations or federations must comprise of regional representatives of organizations and should be presided over by sporting clubs.

“Playing Davis Cup and representing my country has honestly been the biggest honor of my career,” Gonzales said. “And I’m looking forward to playing Davis Cup again whenever that will be.”

The Group 3 competitions kicked off on Wednesday among Hong Kong, Kuwait, Jordan, Malaysia, Pacific-oceania, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syria and Vietnam— all aiming to level up to Group 2.