MAMIIT

The Philippine Davis Cup team will have a tough assignment in its return trip to the Asia Oceania Zone Group I tie as it faces the Japanese squad right away.

RP non-playing captain Chris Cuarto admitted the team will have to be at the top of its game to beat the Japanese.

“It’s going to be really tough,” said Cuarto on Wednesday.

Besides having to face a more formidable rival, Japan will also enjoy the advantage of playing in its home court as the tie will be held in Japan from March 8-10 next year.

The Filipinos have played the Japanese in Group I two years ago, losing 5-0 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

But even if the Philippines had not drawn Japan in the first round of the tie, Group I is a power-laden group with Australia, Taiwan, China, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and South Korea.

With several months to practice, Cuarto believes his team will be ready as shown by its successful campaign in Group II where it beat Hong Kong (4-1), Pakistan (3-2), and New Zealand (4-1) successively.

“Mas settled na yung team ngayon. They know what to expect sa Group I. Two years ago kasi nangapa sila at hindi rin tayo pinalad sa draw. It was a different experience dahil first time nilang makapasok sa Group I,” Cuarto said.

While they are now focusing on the coming Laos Southeast Asian Games this December, Cuarto they have to start mapping out plans for their showdown with the Japanese.

“We’ll try to maximize our participation sa international tournaments. As for other plans, we’ll map it out once,” Cuarto said.

Fil-Americans Cecil Mamiit and Treat Huey are expected to banner the RP squad. Francis Casey Alcantara, Patrick John Tierro, Johnny Arcilla, and Elbert Anasta are among the candidates for the last two seats.

The RP team has only won nine of 25 ties against Japan, the last time in 1995 at the Philippine Columbian Association clay courts with Sofronio Palahang, Joseph Lizardo, and Robert Angelo leading the team.