Cuppers complete return to Group 1

KUWAIT CITY – Patrick John Tierro and Johnny Arcilla routed separate rivals Sunday to complete a Filipino sweep of Kuwait in the Asia-Oceania Zone Group II Davis Cup finals here.

Tierro thumped Ali Ghareeb, 6-3, 6-1, while Arcilla came back from a 1-4 deficit in the second set to beat Ahmad Rabeea Muhammad, 6-1, 7-5, in the reverse singles of the best-of-five tie to formalize the Philippines’ return to the elite Group I of the zone next year.

The Philippines clinched the tie as early as Saturday  when an ailing Cecil Mamiit and Eric Taino bested Mohammad Al-Ghareeb and Mohammad Siddiq, 6-7 (5), 6-0, 6-2, 2-6, 6-1, in the pivotal doubles match.

Mamiit, who was rushed to a hospital Friday evening after contracting an allergy, opened the Philippine’s bid with a 6-3, 6-0, 6-0 rout of Rabeea in Friday’s opening singles before Taino made it 2-0 for the Philippines by beating Kuwaiti No. 1 Al-Ghareeb, 6-2, 5-3, 7-5.

The win sent the Philippines back to Group I where it played last in 1997, re-joining Australia, Japan, Thailand, Uzbekistan, India, Kazakhstan and Taiwan in the 2008 competitions.

“We must get ready for Group I early. This will be the real competition,” the 31-year-old Mamiit said.

“Phase three of our program is now complete but this will not be the end,” non-playing captain Martin Misa said, adding that the team will now turn its focus on the country’s campaign in the coming Southeast Asian Games in Thailand in December where the Nationals will defend their men’s team title and Mamiit his singles and doubles crowns with Taino.

Mamiit and Taino left Sunday night to compete in a tournament in Los Angeles.