WHO will the Philippines field when it meets Syria in their Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone Group II tie this weekend?
This question will be answered today with the holding of the draw that will determine the pairings for the first round action at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa.
The Philippine Davis Cup team is made up of team captain Roland Kraut, Ruben Gonzales, Treat Conrad Huey, Johnny Arcilla and Elbert Anasta with Chris Cuarto as coach.
The Syrian team, on the other hand, is manned by Wassim Zinnia (team manager), team captain Feras Dahbos and players Marc Abdelnour, Issam Taweel, Amer Naow, Yacoub Makhzoume and Majdi Salim.
Having the Davis Cup here for the third time is deemed to give immense advantage to Cebu especially Lapu-Lapu City not only in promoting awareness for tennis but also in terms of promoting tourism.
For former tennis player John Pages, who helped bring the event here, non-tennis players who will get to watch the event will be motivated to take up the sport.
Pages added that new facilities might rise considering that we’ve already hosted an international meet like the Davis Cup.
“Once again the Cebuanos have another chance to watch the Davis Cup live. Outside Manila, very few cities have ever hosted the Davis Cup. Also, with the afternoon and evening matches, it will be so relaxing to watch tennis. This schedule is done for us, the fans. Plus in Davis Cup, we get to cheer not just ordinary players but for our fellow Pinoys,” Pages said.
Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza, for her part, said that the city’s hosting of the Davis Cup will give their local economy another boost.
“The event is expected to result in the hiring of an extra 15 to 20 percent manpower by some resorts on the days of the event. This is because of an expected increase in the number of guests who would visit Lapu-Lapu to watch the international competition. I always believed that sports tourism means jobs and livelihood,” Radaza said.