THE fancied Thailand Davis Cup squad arrives tomorrow three days before its crucial tie with the Philippines in the Asia Oceania Zone Group II at the PCA shell-clay courts in Paco, Manila.
PH Davis Cup Administrator Martin Misa said the Thais – twins Sanchai and Sonchat Ratiwatana, Wishaya Trongcharoenchaikul, Jirat Navasirisomboon, and Palaphoom Kovapitukted – are also well-prepared and fully motivated but are more dangerous.
“On paper, the Thais are stronger and more experienced, but they can’t take our team for granted this time,” said Misa. “Our team has been preparing for almost two weeks.”
The short-handed PH Cuppers were beaten black and blue by the Thais last year in Thailand, but Misa is hoping the crowd support more than the slow shell-clay courts will do wonders again at the PCA courts.
“We produced a number of big comeback wins in this venue in the past because of the crowd support, so we hope tennis enthusiasts will come to support our team again,” said Misa.
Tennis head Atty. Antonio Cablitas echoed Misa’s observation, saying he witnessed how Raymund Suarez and company defied great odds to bring Japan down to its knees during their Davis Cup tie 1988.
“That’s perhaps the biggest win by a PH team in the Davis Cup, I hope we can do that against Thailand,” said Cablitas.
The PH squad will be bannered by former PCA champions AJ Lim and Johnny Arcilla, back-to-form Francis Casey Alcantara, Jeson Patrombon, and John Bryan Otico.
Meantime, the Filipino and Thai Cuppers will have a mini-press conference tomorrow while the draw will be held on Friday at 1 p.m. also at the PCA.