MANILA - The Philippines’ Davis Cup team will seek to continue its bid for a Group I promotion as it battles Pakistan in the second round of the Asia/Oceania Zone Group II in Manila this week.

The Philippine and Pakistani teams will face off beginning Friday until Sunday at the Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) shell court.

The RP team, coached by Christ Cuarto, is composed of Cecil Mamiit, Patrick-John Tierro, Treat Conrad Huey and Francis Casey Alcantara.

In an interview over Morning @ANC, RP Davis Cup assistant coach Roland Kraut said this is the first time that all RP Davis Cuppers have come from international tournaments prior to the tie. He added that this would contribute to the players’ “good conditioning.”

Mamiit and Tierro flew in from Malaysia while Huey arrived from the United States. Alcantara, meantime, came back from his debut stint in Wimbledon where he lost in the first round of the singles and doubles draws.

“First time, so I was pretty nervous at first,” said Alcantara, the first Filipino grand slam titlist. He won the 2009 Australian Open Junior Boys’ Doubles champion with Hsieh Cheng-peng of Chinese Taipei.

Alcantara lost his singles opening round match in three sets while he and his South African partner Nikala Scholtz were defeated in the first round by the No. 4 seeded pair Denis Kudla and Evan King from the US.

For Tierro, his stint in Malaysia with Mamiit was a good preparation for the tie against Pakistan.

“I’ve been with Cecil. We’ve practiced a lot. He was guiding me the whole time in the tournament,” noted Tierro.

Core of the team

“Davis Cup is something that Philippine tennis [fans and officials], they hold on and treasure most,” said Mamiit, the RP team leader.

Huey, Tierro and Alcantara cited Mamiit for guiding and inspiring them to play well.

“He gives you the energy to practice hard... to just do your best every time you practice,” added Tierro.

Alcantara for his part that his Hong Kong experience with Mamiit boosted his confidence.

Coach Kraut called Mamiit the “core of the team” as he is the veteran among the group. Kraut also said the RP team is a good balance right now with Mamiit, 24-year-olds Tierro and Huey, and junior player Alcantara.

Mamiit, for his part, said he does not feel pressured as the team leader. “Actually, it motivates me.”

“This is why I love tennis so much. I don’t expect a lot. I just would like to help as much and actually get a lot of feedback from these guys,” added Mamiit.

The RP team will go against Team Pakistan composed of Aisam Qureshi, Aqeel Khan, Jalil Khan and Yasir Khan. Pakistan’s team captain is Rashid Malik.

“We played two years ago. Mostly they like quicker points, they don’t wanna stay long in between points,” Mamiit said of Team Pakistan’s members.

Mamiit also explained why they chose to play on a shell court. “Conditions are definitely slower. And nobody outside from the Philippines plays on shell. Only in the Philippines—That’s really it.”

The Davis Cup matches start at 3 p.m. Tickets will be available at the gate. “For sure there will be good matches all throughout the days,” said Kraut.

“People should really take advantage to see what we have,” Mamiit added.

The Filipino netters prevailed in March against Hong Kong, 4-1. A victory over Pakistan will set up a clash against Indonesia or New Zealand in a promotional tie for a spot in Group I.