Free Davis Cup tickets ready for distribution
Tickets for the Asia/Oceania Zone Group II first round pitting the Philippines versus Syria from Feb. 1 to 3 are now available for those who want to see a world-class tennis action up close.
Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) vice president clarified that although the three-day event is free to the public, tickets will still be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis so as to control the crowd entering the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa, which will host this prestigious tournament for the third time.
Those with tickets will be given priority in entering the resort as well as in seating. However, those who will not be able to get hold of tickets will still be able to watch the games.
Some 400 tickets will be available to the spectators every day with each ticket good for two persons.
Those in the south can get their tickets from coach Fritz Tabura at the Pardo Tennis Club, while those in the north can approach Ken Salimbangon at the Cebu International Tennis Centre Inc. and Lahug Racquet Club.
Tickets can also be availed from Vic Radaza in Lapu-Lapu, Jess Lagman at the Cebu Country Club, JocJoc at the Baseline tennis courts and Fabby Borromeo at the Villa Aurora and Casino Espanol.
Tickets will also be given away during an exhibition match of the members of the Philippine team, the date and venue of which has yet to be finalized.
TEAM LINEUP
Confirmed to see action for the Philippines are the country’s no.1 Johnny Arcilla, Elbert Anasta, Treat Conrad Huey and Ruben Gonzales. The team will be coached by Ronald Kraut.
Villanueva said that they have yet to name a reserve player.
Of the four tennisters, only Huey and Gonzales have world rankings. As of Jan. 14, Huey is ranked 36th in the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) doubles world ranking, while Gonzales is ranked 825th in the singles.
Arcilla and Gonzales might be playing the singles owing to the fact that they are in good condition and have been doing very well in the past tournaments that they have been competing in.
Unlike his previous Davis Cup outings, Huey will start with the doubles competition, which is his specialty and play in the reverse singles, a role adopted by Marat Safin for the Russian Davis Cup team. This will also prevent Huey from getting exhausted for the duration of the tournament.
The team will be arriving on Jan. 27 except for Arcilla, who will arrive on the 29th as he will still be in Australia.
Syria, on the other hand, will be arriving on the 28th. The team will be made up of Wassim Zinnia (team manager), team captain Feras Dahbos and players Marc Abdelnour, Issam Taweel, Amer Naow, Yacoub Makhzoume and Majdi Salim.
