Raw RP Cuppers fail test

The Philippines bungled its bid for a return stint in the premier group of Asia Oceania Zone Davis Cup competitions and faces the spectre of being relegated to the lower group after bombing out of contention in their Group Two first round tie against Indonesia.

The RP Davis Cuppers absorbed a shattering 1-4 defeat at the hands of the Indons to the dismay of the hometown crowd at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

Indonesia advanced to the second round versus the winner of the Malaysia-Iran tie while the Philippines slid to the loser's bracket, needing to win its next assignment (the loser between Malaysia and Iran) to avoid relegation to Group III next year.

The Filipinos lost the tie right after the doubles as Johnny Arcilla and Adelo Abadia came out tight at the resumption of their match with Susilo Pramono and Hendri Kusdaryanto and suffered a 4-6, 2-6, 7-6 (7-4), 7-5, 1-6 defeat, yielding a decisive 3-0 lead to the Indons, who swept the opening singles Friday.

The Philippines salvaged a point in the tie as Arcilla, a former junior standout who's now the country's No. 1 player, held his ground against Febi Widhiyanto and scored a 6-0, 3-6, 6-4 win at midday.

Indonesia completed the 4-1 victory as top bet Suwandi Suwandi stamped his class over Rolando Ruel Jr., hacking out a 6-4, 6-1 rout. Ruel played in place of Abadia in the non-bearing contest.

"The three-day event showed all the weaknesses of our team. Talagang mahirap manalo kung walang experience ang mga players natin. The result of the tie suggests that we go out and play abroad because it's a fact that you'll improve only when you play better players," said RP non-playing captain Martin Misa.

"We have young players, gastusan lang natin ito by sending them in tournaments abroad. In two or three years, we will have good players in big events like the SEA Games and the Asian Games," Misa added.

Indonesian captain Tintus Wibowo was also impressed by the youthful Filipino players, specifically Arcilla, whom he predicted to be a good player in the next few years.

"I was hoping for a 5-0 sweep but we didn't get it because Arcilla is good. He has a good future but he needs more exposure to gain experience, said Wibowo.

Arcilla provided Filipino fans some solace though the Philippine team had lost the tie. The Butuan lad mustered enough strength to turn back Widhiyanto - a straight-set winner over Abadia in the second singles Friday.

Arcilla and partner Abadia earlier dropped the crucial doubles match to Pramono and Kusdaryanto .

The Indons raced to a 5-0 lead with the Filipinos breaking the run only after Abadia held his serve to make it 5-1. Pramono also held his serve in the seventh game to claim the set, the match and tie for the Indons.

"The postponement of the match proved to be a big break for the Indons for the momentum was already on our side when the match stoppage was called," said Misa. -