Lhuillier confident of Filipino Davis Cuppers’ chances

Fast –rising Filipino netter Francis Casey Alcantara with Philippine tennis patron Jean Henri Lhuilliler

Cebuana Lhuillier-Philippine Davis Cup team manager Jean Henri Lhuillier expressed confidence with the chances of the new team facing Kuwait on March 4-6 at Valle Verde Country Club.

“I think we have assembled the strongest team in recent years. It’s a great combination of experience and youth. All of them have been campaigning actively and have been producing great results in recent international competitions the past months. All players can both play singles and doubles which will make it hard for our opponent to prepare for us. I strongly believe we will emerge victorious in this upcoming match versus Kuwait.” said Lhuillier.

Lhuillier has very good reasons for his optimism. The team is laden with so much talent composed of world number 35 doubles player Treat Huey, 2009 Australian Open Juniors doubles champion Francis Casey Alcantara, former world number 9 juniors player Jeson Patrombon and the highly dependable veteran Ruben Gonzales.

Huey is having a good start this year highlighted by his quarterfinals run in the Australian Open. Alcantara went on a giant-killing run making it to the finals of the doubles of the ATP Challenger held in Manila last month. Patrombon has gained valuable experience playing in several ITF Futures in Asia starting last year while Gonzales has been consistently producing good results in doubles while campaigning in US and Europe.

The team has also named a new non-playing captain in Karl Sta. Maria, a veteran coach in collegiate wars in the country, as part of its quest to break back into the elite Group 1 of the tough Asia/Oceania division.

Source: www.mb.com.ph