MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Davis Cup team is set to play against host Japan in the Asia/Oceania Zone Group I first round tie from Friday to Sunday at the Namihaya Dome in Osaka.

The RP team, composed of Cecil Mamitt, Treat Huey, Johnny Arcilla, Francis Casey Alcantara and non-playing team captain Chris Cuarto, will seek revenge against the Japanese team, who defeated the Nationals during their last face off.

The Filipino netters will go against Tatsuma Ito, Go Soeda, Takao Suzuki and Toshihide Matsui. They are captained by Eiji Takeuchi, also a non-playing mentor.

According to the Davis Cup Web site (www.daviscup.org), the best-of-five tie will be played on Carpet (Taraflex) – Indoors, the surface chosen by the seeded Japanese team.

Japan leads the Philippines, 16-9, in the all time head to head. The countries have clashed in the Asia/Oceania Zone Group I first round several times.

“Hopefully we will get our revenge from them from the last group 1 tie that we played them. It will be tough for our team because we’ll be playing in Osaka,” Cuarto said last month during the PSA Forum in Shakey’s UN Avenue Branch. (www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/02/17/10/philippines-seeks-revenge-vs-japan-d...)

Japan swept the Philippines, 5-0, in 1994, 1996 and 2008 while RP defeated Japan, 3-2, in 1995. The Philippines also beat Japan in 1988 (3-2), 1991 (4-1) and 1992 (3-2, Relegation Play-off).

Meantime, Cuarto added that his players will have to adjust to the surface as well as to the cold weather.

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency (www.jma.go.jp/en/week/331.html), temperature range forecast is 11 to 18 degrees Celsius (Friday), 8 to 11 degrees Celsius (Saturday) and 6 to 11 degrees Celsius (Sunday).

“I think our players are professionals and they have played in different conditions naman... So we’re confident that we’ll be okay in that condition,” he said.