The battle begins

CEBU, Philippines - Pinoy netters clash with  Kiwis today in Davis Cup Group II finals Fil-Am Ruben Gonzales and Johnny Arcilla hope to draw first blood for the Cebuana Lhuillier-backed Philippine team as they take centerstage in the first two singles against fancied foes from New Zealand at the start of the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group II finals today at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City. Gametime is set at 4pm.

Gonzales will go up against New Zealand's No. 2 player Michael Venus, while Arcilla, an ITF Davis Cup 'Commitment' awardee, will mix it up with the top-ranked Kiwi Rubin Statham.

"It doesn't matter whether I play the first singles or the second, what's important is that I have gained some experience and confidence in the Davis Cup," said Gonzales, who already beat Venus in two futures events - one in the NCAA Division I match and another on clay court or the exact same surface here in the United States last year.

As an added motivation, Gonzales yearns to give himself a belated birthday gift having turned 28 years old just the other day.

“Yes, it's part of my birthday wish that we would win this one. We’ve been doing well as a team since the first round. I’m very much familiar with Venus. He’s an all-around player, but I already have strategies in mind on what to do with him,” he added.

Arcilla, on the other hand, braces for a tough battle against the highly-rated Statham in the second singles.

Arcilla lost to Statham in their previous meeting back in 2007, but the Cebuano netter is confident of getting back at his Kiwi tormentor right before the eyes of his hometown fans.

"I promise that I will give my best in this game. The award that they will be giving inspires me a lot and I strive hard to win," said Arcilla.

The 42-ranked Philippines enjoys a 3-2 lead over New Zealand, the 39th best nation on Davis Cup ratings, in their last five meetings, but the Kiwis prevailed over their Filipino rivals via a 5-0 shutout in their most recent encounter two years ago.

“This will be a tough tie. You keep saying 3-2 and you will make it 4-2, but we believe otherwise. We have a good chance,” said New Zealand’s non-playing team captain Alistair Hunt.

In the doubles event scheduled at 6 pm tomorrow, Phl has tapped another Fil-Am Treat Conrad Huey and Francis Casey Alcantara to face off with Artem Sitak and Marcus Daniell.

"We're ready for the tie, ready to play in the doubles for sure," said Huey, who is coming off an inspiring  quarterfinal finish in the US Open doubles in New York where he partnered with Dominic Inglot to become the first Filipino to ever reach that far in a Grand Slam event.

The reverse singles matches, if necessary, will pit the best of both teams - Gonzales vs. Statham and Arcilla against Venus - although Huey could replace Arcilla at the last minute if the need arises.

"I'm confident of our chances, I saw how the players prepared and practiced for this tie especially after coming off our huge win over Thailand," said Phl's non-playing skipper Ronald Kraut.

The winner of the Phl-New Zealand match will be promoted to the elite Group I in the 2014 season. Phl was demoted from Group I after suffering back-to-back losses to Japan and Chinese-Taipei in 2011, but wins over Syria, 3-2, and Thailand, 4-1, last April vaulted the Pinoys on the brink of return. (FREEMAN)