RP Cuppers unfazed by Japanese home edge

MANILA, Philippines - The Cebuana Lhuillier-RP Davis Cup team faces a tough opponent in Japan, but is confident it can hurdle this latest obstacle in its bid for a place in the World Group playoffs.

The Asia-Oceania Zone Group 1 competition is set March 5-7, with the Japanese holding homecourt edge as the best-of-five competition will be held in Osaka.

Non-playing team captain Chris Cuarto raises two major concerns of the RP Cuppers, led by three-time Southeast Asian Games singles gold medalist Cecil Mamiit, heading to their first Group 1 stint since 2008 – the playing surface at the Namihaya Dome and the cold Japanese weather at the moment.

But other than that, he said the Filipinos are ready to take on the Japanese as they seek to avenge the 5-0 sweep they suffered at the hands of the host team two years ago.

“This is not really a guessing game. The weather and the playing surface are really our problem. But our players are very professional. I believe we’ll all be able to manage it,” said Cuarto.

RP Davis Cup team coordinator Randy Villanueva, who was with Cuarto and Cebuana Lhuillier official Danny Francisco in yesterday’s PSA Forum at the Shakey’s UN Avenue branch, said to address the twin issues, the entire squad – also composed of Treat Huey, Francis Casey Alcantara, Patrick John Tierro and Johnny Arcilla – will be leaving at least a week prior to the three-day match to acclimatize themselves in Japan.

“It’s really a tough group, but I like our chances. The team is ready, and hopefully, we will have our revenge against them in Japan,” Villanueva added in the same session presented by Outlast Battery, Pagcor, Shakey’s and Accel.

Takao Suzuki, the winningest Japanese player in Davis Cup history, will be at the forefront of the team’s campaign along with veteran Go Soeda, Satoshi Iwabuchi, Kei Nishikori, Yuichi Sugita and Tatsuma Ito.

The home team reached the third round of Group 1 last year, but lost to Uzbekistan in the final to remain in the same group.

Assuming the RP Cuppers survive the Japanese, they will host Australia in the next round sometime in May. A win over the Aussies would allow the Filipinos to advance in the World Group playoffs, which they reached for the last time in 1991 behind a team led by Felix Barrientos.