Philippines low key over its Davis Cup chances

Philippines low key over its Davis Cup chances

JAKARTA (JP): The Philippines Davis Cup team is playing it low
key over its chances of beating host Indonesia in the semifinals
of the Group II Asia Oceania zone.

Salvador H. Andrada, president of the Philippine Tennis
Association (Philta), told reporters on Sunday that he could not
predict what would happen despite having more experienced
players.

"Each country always expects to win, but nobody knows because
playing in the Davis Cup is different from regular competitions.
The ball is round. Indonesia has the advantage of the home
crowd," he said.

"The players play for their country and it puts them under
lots of pressure."

The Philippines sent Joseph Lizardo, Bryan Juinio, Michael
Misa and Adelo Abadia here. They are accompanied by nonplaying
captain Martin F. Misa, the older brother of Michael.

Lizardo and Juinio studied in the United States and played in
the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) matches.
Juinio is world ranked 1,000, which is now superior to Lizardo,
after he reached the second round and quarterfinals of the first
and second legs of the Philippines Future early this month.

The Filipinos defeated Chinese Taipei 3-2 in the first playoff
in Manila in February.

While the Indonesian team -- comprising Suwandi, Febi
Widhiyanto, Edy Kusdaryanto and Hendri Susilo Pramono -- crashed
to Qatar 5-0.

The Davis Cup match will take place on April 2 through April 4
on the Rebound Ace surfaced Senayan indoor court.

Martin Misa said after arriving at Soekarno-Hatta
International Airport that his players would not have any trouble
adapting to the court.

"We have prepared well for the match and I think our players
are familiar with the court," he said.

However, Misa declined to say whether his players would be
able to beat the Indonesians.

"Our players will do their best. No speculation."

Lizardo, the fittest among the Filipinos, said he had beaten
Suwandi in the 1997 Southeast Asian (SEA) Games here but could
not say if he would repeat his victory.

"It's different from 1997. However, I think I'm at my fittest.
I think I'm better than when I beat him two years ago," said the
30-year-old player.

Andrada said he had expected the Indonesian Tennis Association
(Pelti) to move the venue to Bali.

"Bali is quieter and I think our and your players would have a
better atmosphere there. However, it's not a problem anymore. I
see Jakarta is not as crowded as when I was here for the SEA
Games two years ago," he said.

The Philippines had asked Indonesia to move the location to a
neutral place and for the event to be rescheduled for security
reasons.

Speaking of Cecil Mamiit, who reportedly declined joining the
Davis Cup team, Andrada said Philta had not invited Mamiit.

"There's no need to call Mamiit. We'll prepare him for the
2000 Olympics."

He also said that Philta would hand over a US$1,000 cash bonus
to the players if they beat Indonesia. (yan)