PH stays alive in Davis Cup with doubles triumph

The Philippines kept its hopes of advancing to Group 1 alive after Treat Conrad Huey and Francis “Casey” Alcantara won the rain-delayed doubles match of the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group 2 final round tie against New Zealand’s Artem Sitak and Marcus Daniell, 6-4, 6-3, 6-4, late last night at the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.

With the victory, the Philippines finally barged into the win column and sliced the country’s deficit to 1-2. The Philippines  has a chance to win the tie if it comes out victorious in its two reverse singles matches this afternoon at the same venue.

New Zealand won the first two singles matches last Friday evening.

Rain halted the match for about two hours with the Philippines up by one set and with the second set tied at 3-all. But this did not stop the momentum of Huey and Alcantara.

The Filipinos broke the serve of the New Zealand team in the last game of the third set with the visiting duo netting their returns to win the match.

“Yesterday it didn’t go our way,” Huey said. “We knew we had to work hard today. I give all the credit to Nino (Francis “Casey” Alcantara).”

Alcantara once again awed the crowd with his drop shots, crosscourt winners and volleys.

The Philippine pair started out hot by taking the first game on an early break when New Zealand’s Sitak, who replaced Michael Venus,  netted a return. They then held serve to go up by 2-1.

New Zealand held serve and broke the Philippines to go up at 3-all but the Filipinos broke the Kiwis right back to post a 3-4 lead on a double fault by Daniell. Another error from Daniell stretched the Philippines’ lead to 5-3.

It was Huey’s turn to net his return to Daniells forehand serve that allowed New Zealand to close the gap at 4-5. Huey compensated for it by setting up three set points in the next game. The Philippines then warpped up the first set in its favor.

In the second set, New Zealand was able to hold its own against the Philippines and was eventually able to level the match at 3-all before rain poured and halted the game.

When the Filipinos returned two hours later, they won all games to wrap the second set in their favor and set up a formidable 2-0 lead.

In the third set, New Zealand was once again able to match the Philippines play by play and even took a 4-3 lead. However, a top spin lob by Huey allowed the Philippines to break the Kiwis’ back for a 4-all tie. The Pinoys then capitalized on the Kiwis’ unforced errors to close out the match in three sets.