RP Davis Cuppers get praise from Japanese netters

MANILA, Philippines – Despite shutting out the Philippine Davis Cup team 5-0 over the weekend, members of the Japanese Davis Cup delegation praised their Filipino counterparts for their improved skills when they collided at the Namihaya Dome in Osaka.

Yuko Omori, editor of Tennis Classic break magazine of Nippon Bunka Publishing Co., told abs-cbnNEWS.com that the Japanese team was impressed with the Filipinos.

”Japanese singles No.1 Tatsuma Ito and Japanese Team Captain Eiji Takeuchi said that Huey is a very tricky player and is a very great player,” Omori said in an e-mail correspondence.

Ito and Huey went the distance in the first match up, with the former taking the win, 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4, last Friday, March 5.

Omori noticed that Huey had great technique just like his fellow Filipino-American, Cecil Mamiit.

The magazine editor noted that Mamiit hit the ball “controllably and powerfully. Although he is not tall, he hits the ball powerfully. And his volley is very good. I think he is clever.”

Mamiit played for three straight days.

He lost to Go Soeda, 7-6(4), 3-6, 3-6, 3-6 then he and Huey lost to Takao Suzuki and Toshihide Matsui, 4-6, 4-6, 3-6. He also lost one of the dead rubber matches to Ito, 4-6, 6-7(4).

 The other dead rubber match was between Soeda and Francis Casey Alcantara, the 2009 Australian Open Junior Boys’ Doubles Champion. Soeda dominated Alcantara, 6-1, 6-0.

“He was beaten by Soeda completely from the score, but I think he has wonderful talent. So in the future, he will play an active part in the world,” wrote Omori.

She added that Alcantara had powerful shots, especially his down the line forehand which had power, speed and control.

Non-playing team captain Chris Cuarto and Johnny Arcilla also comprised the RP Davis Cup team, which will next face Chinese Taipei.

Japan, on the other hand will play against Australia in the 2nd round in May. – by Ma. Rosanna Mina, abs-cbnNEWS.com