PH likely to host second round of Davis Cup

The Davis Cup may return sooner than expected at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City after Philippine Davis Cup administrator Randy Villanueva said that there is a big possibility that the second round of action pitting the Philippines versus Thailand will be held at the shell-clay court of the resort this April.

Villanueva, also the vice president of the Philippine Tennis Association (Philta), said the Philippines will be hosting Thailand, which also advanced to the second round after defeating Kuwait.

According to Villanueva, he still has yet to discuss with the Philta board regarding the venue of the tie but most likely, holding it at the resort is a shoo-in.

Plantation Bay Resort and Spa general manager Efren Belarmino and Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza said the event is most welcome should it return even in such a short period of time.

“Yes, we are very willing to host it again this April. Everything is prepared already,” Belarmino said.

He added that putting up bleachers in just two sides of the court was a great idea because it jampacked the event.

“Looking at the crowd, it was a great feeling,” Belarmino said.

Villanueva agreed saying that the crowd that showed up last Saturday to see Philippine’s Treat Conrad Huey and Ruben Gonzales defeat Syria’s Issam Haitham Taweel and Marc Abdelnour was what he had been looking for here in Cebu.

“Perfect yung set-up sana ma maintain nila yon. Mas gusto din ng mga players yung shell clay-court kasi namimaintain yung moisture,” Villanueva said.

Meanwhile, Syria won the last two reverse singles, which were already non-bearing in yesterday’s last day of the tournament.

Issam Haitham Taweel defeated Vicente “Elbert” Anasta, 6-7, 6-1, 6-4, while Marc Abdelnour defeated Treat Conrad Huey, 7-6, 6-2. Because the matches were already non bearing, only three sets were played each.

Rains also halted the match between Anasta and Taweel for almost an hour.