Fil-Ams picked to start vs Pakistanis

The Philippines’ Davis Cup team starts its Group II tie tomorrow against Pakistan but whoever the host team would field for which matches will be known in the draw of lots at 10 a.m. today at the Sheraton Hotel.

Powered by Fil-Americans Cecil Mamiit and Eric Taino, the host will face a squad which has been relegated to Group II after a dismal run last year in Asia-Oceania Group I where it lost all three ties.

On the other hand, the Filipinos are raring to break into Group I for the first time in more than a decade, especially after emerging brilliantly from the Group III last year when it swept all five ties.

By all indications, Mamiit and Taino, Southeast Asian Games gold medalists, will be fielded in the opening singles, the better to shock and awe the Pakistan side which will miss its top player due to injury.

Aisan Qureshi won’t see action for Pakistan, which reached World Group for the first time in 2005 only to drop its tie against Chile that triggered its downward spiral.

"Right now I can say that we have a 70-30 chances of winning the tie,’’ said Philippine Lawn Tennis Association executive vice president Ajay Pathak. "Among other reasons is because Cecil is in top shape.’’

Mamiit, the Asian Games bronze winner, is currently ranked 190th in the world and he’s hoping to gain on the world rankings by helping win the tie and improve his chance of making it to the Olympics in Beijing next year.

But non-playing captain Martin Misa said Pakistan is no push-over especially since they have played in the Group I, something the country hasn’t done since 1995.

Another thing going for the Filipinos is the home turf, specifically the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center hard court, which was preferred by both Mamiit and Taino.

"They are very at home with the fast surface," said Pathak of the court where the country won three gold medals during the 2005 SEA Games.

Completing the RP Team are veterans PJ Tierro and Johnny Arcilla, who like their Fil-Am counterparts, never dropped a match in winning last year’s tie that includes Singapore, Vietnam, Saudi Arabria and Iran.