Group I or bust for Pinoy Davis Cuppers

It will be Group I or bust for the Philippine Davis Cup team when it plays in the second round of its Group II tie in the Asia Oceania zone in April this year.

The Philippines previously played in Group I for two years, from 2010 to 2011, after being promoted in 2009 following a 4-1 win over New Zealand in the Asia Oceania Group II final.

The Pinoy Davis Cuppers stayed in Group I after posting a 3-2 win over South Korea in 2010 but were relegated to Group II in 2011 after a 3-2 loss to Chinese Taipei in the relegation playoff.

The Philippines moved to the second round of the Asia Oceania Group II tie after a 3-1 win over Sri Lanka early this month. They will play either Pakistan or Vietnam in the next tie where the country has the chance to host the matches set from April 4 to 6.

And Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) Chairman Jean Henri Lhuillier is optimistic about the possibility of the team returning to Group I this year.

“We’re all excited this year. There is a good chance that we will be hosting the tie. If it’s Pakistan, either here in the Philippines or it will be held on neutral ground, either in Malaysia or Singapore. If it’s Vietnam, we have a strong chance of hosting here,” said Lhuillier in an interview.

“The Davis Cup team’s goal is to make it to Group I. The team has made a strong commitment to return to Group I. If we don’t we consider it to be our biggest failure this year. We think that this is our biggest chance, this year.”

The Philippine Davis Cup team is composed of Filipino-American Treat Huey and Ruben Gonzales along with local bets Johnny Arcilla and Patrick John Tierro.

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