PHL vs. Chinese-Taipei off today

CEBU, Philippines - After all the hype leading to the action, the day to prove their worth has come for the Cebuana Lhuillier Philippine Davis Cup team as they open their tie with Chinese-Taipei at the posh Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City today.

The opening ceremony starts at 9:30 and the first match will follow at 10 a.m.

Philippine team skipper Cecil Mamiit will open the host team’s campaign facing Chinese-Taipei’s top player in the line-up, Ti Chen.

Treat Condrad Huey, for his part, will play the second singles against Yeu-Tzuoo Wang also known as Jimmy Wang.

For the doubles match, which will be played at noontime tomorrow, the Philippines will be fielding Fil-Am Ruben Gonzales and former World junior no.9, Jeson Patrombon.

Gonzales and Patrombon will be playing against Wang and Chu Huan Yi based on the draw held yesterday at Lapu-Lapu City Hall.

Johnny Arcilla, the country’s top player, is listed as reserve.

Mamiit earlier explained that Arcilla had already been given the chance to play here last March and he as the playing team captain wanted to give others equal opportunity to play that is why Gonzales and even the 18-year-old Patrombon had been fielded in for exposure and with the hope provided a new kind of enthusiasm for the team.

“I think I just want to lead, start off the way for our team, which has worked very hard leading up here, I just want to be more of a setup guy, my role for me is to set up these guys to shine and become celebrities and icons.

“It's not about me anymore, I think I've done my part for 20 years on the tennis tour I just want to help set up the team so they can be the winners that they are supposed to be and be represented well so I expect to win, why not this is the reason why we're here,” said Mamiit after the draw.

Huey, who is now ranked 59th in doubles, is ready for anything.

“My knee was bothering me last March so I sat out the singles but now I feel lot better physically and more prepared for this time and I feel good,” said Huey.

Chinese-Taipei, on the other hand, is just as ready as the Pinoy bets.

“We have been looking forward to this match. We don’t think about the situation (of the losing team to be relegated to group 2).We have to think of each match, each point. We cannot control the result, but step by step, starting with the first match then we’ll just see from there. But definitely it’s going to be an exciting one,” said Wang.

For those who want to watch, a free shuttle will be available at Ayala’s South Surface parking area starting at 6:30 a.m.

Tickets are pegged at P200 per day or a season pass of P500 while VIP tickets are sold at P5000 for three days. (FREEMAN)