Team RP eyes QF vs Norway

MANILA, Philippines - Team Philippines takes on Norway late Thursday, looking for a victory and a berth in the quarterfinal round of the inaugural World Team Cup Championship at the Hannover Exhibition Grounds in Hannover, Germany.

The RP bets, composed of Dennis Orcullo, Ronnie Alcano, Lee Vann Corteza, Marlon Manalo, Warren Kiamco and Antonio Lining, are coming off back-to-back victories over Great Britain II and Czech Republic to reach the Last 16 phase of the event which drew 48 nations.

Norway, headed by Malvin Bjelland, Vegar Kristiansen, Mats Schjetne and Tommy Wolff, trampled Iran, lost to Great Britain, but bounced back by beating Aruba in the loser’s bracket to gain a crack at the quarters slot.

Team RP is now assured of $10,000 (roughly P470,000)

The tournament, patterned after the Davis Cup, offers a total purse of $400,000 (roughly P19.2 million) with Team RP assured of $10,000 (roughly P470,000) for making it to the Last 16.

Other Last 16 matches pit Poland versus Finland; Russia against Denmark; Sweden against Germany II; Germany versus Great Britain; China against Serbia; Switzerland against Japan; and United States versus Greece.