Filipinos, Kiwis start Davis Cup battle

Ruben Gonzales will start the ball rolling for the Cebuana Lhuillier Philipine Davis Cup team’s quest to return to Group 1 as his name was drawn first in yesterday’s draw in the final round tie of the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group 2.

Gonzales will go up against New Zealand’s No.2 player Michael Venus at 4 p.m. in the first singles match at the shell-clay court of the Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.

“The draw makes for a good match. We’ve met once the other year and once last year and I’m looking forward to playing really good matches,” said Gonzales who won both their previous professional matches.

Both netters have also met several times during their university days.

This will, however, mark the first time that they will meet in the Davis Cup.

The second singles match will have Philippine Davis Cup commitment awardee Johnny Arcilla facing New Zealand’s No.1 player Jose Rubin Statham.

“The award inspires me and I’m excited to play because this is the finals. I will have to fight, make it difficult for him if possible, I will give it my all for tomorrow’s (today’s) match,” Arcilla said in Filipino.

The last time these two netters met was in 2007 in New Zealand with Statham winning.

The doubles match at 6 p.m. tomorrow will have the Philipines’ Treat Conrad Huey and Francis “Casey” Alcantara go up against Kiwis Venus and Marcus Daniell.

STRONG DOUBLES

Alcantara, who was a big factor in the Philippines’ win against Thailand last April, promised to do more for this match.

He said that he is better prepared now than the last time as he has been training continously for six weeks.

Huey, for his part, said that his quarterfinal finish in the recent US Open has made him more confident this time.

New Zealand is expecting long rallies with the slow shell-clay court. The Kiwis favor the hardcourt while the Filipinos favor the clay court.

“Rankings show that our boys play more singles. The Davis Cup is match by match and we come here to seek and that’s that,” New Zealand team captain Alastair Hunt said.

Philippine team captain Roland Kraut, for his part, said that he is happy that Gonzales will go up first.

“Ready sila sa kahit ano, prepared sila sa kahit ano, gaya ng sabi ni Johnny, laban lang ng laban,” Kraut said.