MANILA, Philippines – The Philippines failed to score a point in the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Zone I tie against Japan, suffering a 0-5 sweep in the Namihaya Dome in Osaka over the weekend.

Japan, represented by Tatsuma Ito, Go Soeda, Takao Suzuki and Toshihide Matsui, clinched the win over RP Cuppers Cecil Mamiit, Treat Huey, Johnny Arcilla and Francis Casey Alcantara, in the best-of-five tie on Saturday, 3-0.

The Japanese netters continued their run over the Filipinos on Sunday in the dead rubber matches.

Ito defeated Mamiit, 6-4, 7-6(4) while Soeda overwhelmed Alcantara, 6-1, 6-0, according to the Davis Cup official Web site.

Japan kicked off its Davis Cup campaign on Friday with Ito’s 3-6, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-4 victory over Huey and Soeda’s 6-7(4), 6-3, 6-3, 6-3 win over Mamiit.

The tandem of Matsui and Suzuki dashed the hopes of the Philippines by beating Mamiit and Huey, 6-4, 6-4, 6-3.

Japan will face Australia in the 2nd round in May. Australia swept Chinese Taipei, 5-0, in the Margaret Court Arena in Melbourne.

Amazing showing from Filipinos

Despite the Philippines’ sweep loss, an editor of a Japanese magazine said she was amazed by the Filipinos’ tennis.

“Mamiit and Huey played very, very good! Mamiit has a big forehand and backhand and Huey has a big, big serve. But Japanese Ito and Soeda played well more than they played,” Yuki Omori told abs-cbnNEWS.com via e-mail.

Omori, editor of Tennis Classic break magazine of Nippon Bunka Publishing Co., added that Mamiit and Huey “played very, very well” during the doubles.

Alcantara and Arcilla were supposed to play doubles but non-playing captain Chris Cuarto made a change in the lineup.  

Mamiit then played his 3rd straight match on Sunday. “I think that Mamiit was tired. So he did not play very well,” Omori added.

As for Alcantara, the Japanese magazine editor said, “He has a big forehand. His play is nice.” – by Ma. Rosanna Mina, abs-cbnNEWS.com