FIL-AM netter Cecil Mamiit likes the Philippine Davis Cup
team’s chances against Japan in its Asia Oceania Group 1 tie on Feb. 8-10 at the
Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.
Mamiit, 30, ranked 520th in the world, admitted the Japanese
have the edge in terms of experience, but expressed the belief the Filipinos can
offset that disadvantage through talent and crowd support.
"I expect it to be a close match. Japan is a powerhouse in
Asia, but we have the talent to compete with them," Mamiit said in a special
appearance at the weekly PSA Forum yesterday at the Shakey’s UN Avenue branch.
"We’re even in style with the Japanese, but we have the
advantage in crowd support and the comfort of the playing venue. We’ll
definitely try to use those advantages which I believe will be the key in
winning."
The country’s No. 1 player said he hasn’t played in any
international tournaments since retaining the men’s singles gold medal in the
24th Southeast Asian Games in Thailand.
"It feels great coming in fresh," Mamiit added in the forum
also sponsored by Shakey’s and Pagcor.
The country is playing in Group 1 of the meet since 1997 and
will try to make it back to the World Group stage where it last saw action in
1991.
With the US-based Mamiit at the helm, the Filipinos had been
on a roll the past two years, winning their last eight ties, including a 5-0
blanking of Kuwait last year that clinched them a berth in Group 1.
"Our objective is to make it into the World Group. We have a
good draw. We are on a winning streak going into this tie and we are going to
utilize that," said Mamiit." It’s now up to us how we will finish it, how we
will handle ourselves."
Eric Taino, Mamiit’s perennial doubles partner, will arrive
on Friday from the US to join the team that has PJ Tierro as the other regular
member. The remaining slot is still being contested by Johnny Arcilla and Pablo
Olivarez II.
