Inquirer.net | Alcantara to reinforce PH Cuppers vs Sri Lanka
Marc Anthony Reyes
MANILA, Philippines—The Cebuana Lhuillier-Philippine Davis Cup team has recalled
US-based Francis Casey Alcantara to reinforce the national squad against Sri Lanka
when they collide this weekend in the Davis Cup Group 2 first round tie.
Alcantara, a top netter of the Pepperdine University in the US NCAA, will join regulars
Patrick John Tierro, Treat Huey and Ruben Gonzales during the tie that will be held
for the first time at Valle Verde Country Club shell-clay courts in Pasig.
Team manager Jean Henri Lhuillier expressed optimism of the country’s chances in
the tie which begins on Friday with the opening singles at 4 p.m. The doubles will
be on Saturday at 3 p.m. while the reverse singles will be held the following day
at 3 p.m.
Tickets are pegged at P1,000 for a three-day season pass while day passes are worth
P500.
TF referee David Smith of New Zealand will supervise the tie sponsored by Cebuana
Lhuillier, Yonex, Pasig City and the Philippine Sports Commission.
The PH netters, with non-playing captain Roland Kraut at the helm, have never lost
to the Sri Lankans in eight outings. Karl Santamaria is PH Davis Cup head coach.
Listed to play for Sri Lanka are Sharmal Dissanayake, Harshana Godamanna, Dineshkantan
Thangarajah, and Sankha Atukarale. Non-playing captain is Rohan de Silva.
The drawing of lots to determine who plays first will be held March 5 at 10 a.m.
also at Valle Verde Country Club. The Philippines is looking to finally move up
to Group 1 in Asia-Oceania competitions.
Source: inquirer.net