Phl netters clash with Kiwis in Davis Cup tiff

LAPU-LAPU CITY, Cebu — After pulling off a historic victory over Thailand last April, the Cebuana Lhuillier-Phl team seeks another giant-sized victory as it faces off with a higher-ranked New Zealand in their 2013 Davis Cup Group II Asia-Oceania promotional tie starting Thursday at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa here.

Fil-Am Treat Conrad Huey will lead the host country’s campaign as he is expected to play in the doubles where is ranked 28th in the world after an unprecedented quarterfinal appearance in the US Open doubles with Great Britain’s Dominic Inglot just recently.

The 28-year-old Huey flew to the county Tuesday straight from New York and then quickly boarded a flight to Cebu where was joined with teammates, fellow Fil-Am Ruben Gonzales, Francis Casey Alcantara and Johnny Arcilla.

“We’re ready,” said Huey, who teamed up with Alcantara in anchoring the Filipinos win over the Thais, the former’s first Davis Cup tie triumph in 28 years.

The drawing of lots is set Wednesday at the Lapu-Lapu City Hall although the Phl is expected to field in Gonzales and Arcilla in the opening singles Friday and Huey to partner with Alcantara again in the doubles on Saturday the way they did against Thailand.

The Phl, which is supported by Smart, Yonex, Cebuana Lhuillier, Lapu-Lapu mayor Radaza Paz, Jober Electronics, Plantation Bay vice president Efren Belarmino and Phl Sports Commission, though will be facing its toughest New Zealand team to date with the last minute entry of Jose Statham.

The 25-year-old Statham, who replaced Daniel Turner-King, is the highest Kiwi player at 295th followed by Michael Venus at 373rd and Artem Sitak at 447th, whose rankings are way ahead of the singles rankings of Gonzales (1,001st) and Huey (1,138th).

The Filipinos still lead the Kiwis, who arrived as early as Saturday after competing in a Challenger event in Shanghai, China, in their head-to-head, 3-2, but it was the latter that had the last say with a 5-0 win in their Group I relegation play two years ago.

“It will be tough for sure because New Zealand is fielding in its best team,” said non-playing team captain Roland Kraut.

Team manager Jean Henri Lhuillier, for his part, is pinning his hopes on the home court advantage and the surface familiarity against New Zealand.