MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine tennis team is ranked 25 spots ahead of Pacific Oceania in the Davis Cup rankings, but Randy Villanueva is careful not to make too much of his team’s advantage on paper when the two squads collide in the Asia-Oceania Zone Group II tie starting Friday in Iriga City, Camarines Sur.

The 41st-ranked PH netters got a first glimpse of their rivals, ranked 66th, during practice at the University of St. Anthony indoor hard court last Monday.

“Matatangkad sila. Malalakas pumalo,” Villanueva said.

The Filipinos, composed of No.1 Treat Huey, non-playing team captain Cecil Mamiit, Ruben Gonzales, Jeson Patrombon, and Johnny Arcilla, will face Pacific Oceania in a three-day, best-of-five matchup where the winner will advance to the second round in April.

Michael Leong, Cyril Jacobe, Daniel Llarenas, Aymeric Mara, and non-playing skipper Cyrille Mainguy comprise the Pacific Oceania crew, which clashes with the Filipinos for the first time since it joined the Davis Cup in 1995.

The foreign squad has also never been to Group I, where the Filipinos had stayed since 2010 before losing their spot last year.

Meanwhile, Villanueva lauded the local government of Iriga City for doing a "tremendous job" in coming up with the best indoor tennis court appropriate for the event.

"The tennis court has the best lighting designed for tennis. Thanks to Iriga City Mayor Madel Alfelor- Gazmen for making this possible," Villanueva said.