Mamiit to head Phl in Asia-Oceania tie?

MANILA, Philippines - The Philippine Tennis Association will decide tomorrow whether or not to retain Fil-Am Cecil Mamiit as spearhead of the Philippine team when it faces Pacific-Oceania in the Asia-Oceania Davis Cup Group II first round tie slated Feb. 10-12 in Iriga City.

“I’m not yet sure but everything will be decided by the board tomorrow,” Philta’s Davis Cup administrator Randy Villanueva told The STAR yesterday.

The 35-year-old Mamiit has skippered the national squad in the last four years where he guided the team to Group I before it was relegated to Group II this year.

Aside from his Davis Cup stints, Mamiit also won two gold medals in the SEA Games plus a couple of bronze medals in the 2006 Doha Asian Games.

There were reports, however, that Mamiit may still be tapped as playing team captain for the upcoming tournament for the needed leadership and experience but on a limited role to give way for the younger players like Jeson Patrombon and Francis Casey Alcantara.

Meanwhile, Villanueva also said that the venue was moved from the Iriga City Coliseum to the newly refurbished indoor court of University of Saint Anthony, also in the capital city.

Host city Mayor Madeline Alfelor-Gazmen and Philta recently signed the memorandum of agreement to formalize Iriga City’s hosting of the event.

Pacific-Oceania, which defeated Iran, 4-1, in their own relegation tie to stay in Group II, are composed of players from associate member islands of Oceania except those from Australia and New Zealand.

West Nott, Cyrile Jacobe, Leon So’Onalole, Michael Leong and Daniel Llarenas will make up the Pacific-Oceania team that joined the Davis Cup in 1995. The team’s best finish was a second round stint in Group II in 2005.