Mamiit yields to promising players

Cecil Mamiit has effectively been retired from representing the Philippines in Davis Cup competitions.

But his services and his experience will not be going to waste after he was tapped by the local tennis association as non-playing captain of the Davis Cup squad that will face Pacific Oceania in the Group II first-round tie set Feb. 10 to 12 in Iriga City, Camarines Sur.

Philta vice president Randy Villanueva, also the Philippines’ Davis Cup administrator, said the board decided after a meeting that Mamiit will no longer be part of the team as a player, ending six years as team captain during which he brought countless honors for the country in Davis Cup.

But his future Southeast Asian Games stints will be reviewed in the coming months.

His retirement from Davis Cup has opened the door for young and promising players to take up the cudgels for the national team and also signals the new direction of the association’s program.

“Ito yung gustong direksyon ng (Philta) board. The board, however, still believes that his experience and leadership skills will be a great factor for the team as a non-playing team captain,” said Villanueva.

Villanueva added they have already talked to Mamiit as soon as the board decided with the lineup of the Davis Cup team last week and the bemedalled tennis hero accepted the change with a heavy heart.

“Alam ko beforehand, gusto pa rin niyang maglaro. Medyo nalungkot siya sa decision ng board, but in away, na-accept naman niya and he’s still willing to help the team,” Villanueva said.

Mamiit, 35, joined the Davis Cup squad in 2006 and steered the team from the lowly Group III to Group I this year. The Filipinos, however, lost their ties against Japan (1-3), New Zealand (0-5) and Taiwan (2-3) this year to be relegated to Group II in 2012.

Since 2006, Mamiit played 45 matches in 20 ties, winning 16 of 29 singles and nine of 16 doubles matches.

The California-born netter, born to Filipino parents, has not been playing ITF and ATP tournaments for more than a year now, instead concentrating on his stints with the Philippine team.

With Mamiit as non-playing team captain, the squad will be composed of Fil-Americans Treat Huey and Ruben Gonzales, Jeson Patrombon and Johnny Arcilla.

Huey, who joined the team in 2009, is currently ranked No. 57 in the ATP doubles.

Gonzales, a Guangzhou Asian Games veteran, played only two ties, while Patrombon is the country’s former top junior netter.

Arcilla has been with the Davis Cup team since 2000, but has only been actively competing locally.

source by Kristel Satumbaga, mb.com.ph

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Tennis eyes youngsters for Philippine team

MANILA, Philippines – Smarting from its demotion to Davis Cup Group 2, Philippine tennis is training its sights on youngsters with potential to fuel its campaign next year.

Philippine Tennis Association president and Parañaque Rep. Edwin Olivarez said their thrust in 2012 will be to harness the homegrown talents in representing the country in international events like the Davis Cup ties, the first of which the country will host in Iriga City in February.

He, however, didn’t discount the possibility of bringing in the usual gunners like Cecil Mamiit and Treat Huey. But for the meantime, he said: “We need new homegrown talents. We need to develop a young team, that’s the direction we are taking.”

Being eyed is 15-year-old Jurence Zosimo Mendoza, who stormed to the finals of Philippine Columbian Association Open tennis late this month, beating older, seeded foes like former Cuppers Elbert Anasta and Patrick John Tierro.

Mendoza, an age-group standout under the tutelage of former Cupper Jun Toledo, has been playing with the PH Davis Cuppers the past two ties and could get the experience in the tie in Bicol.

source by Marc Anthony Reyes, Philippine Daily Inquirer

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