PH Cuppers thump Qatar, advance to promotional playoffs

The Philippine Davis Cup team is one tie win away from advancing to Group III.

The Philippines continued its dominance and blasted Qatar with a convincing 3-0 victory to advance to the promotional playoffs in the Davis Cup Asia Oceania Group IV in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on Friday, July 18.

Arthur Craig Patino fought back a tight first set and edged Mubarak Alharrasi, 7-6 (5), 6-3, in the first singles, before AJ Lim followed it up with a dominating 6-1, 6-2 victory over Mossa Alharrasi in the second singles.

Francis Casey Alcantara and Jed Olivarez whipped Ghanim Al Sulaiti and Issa Alharrasi, 6-2, 6-0, in the non-bearing doubles to seal the tie win.

The Filipinos finished Pool B unscathed in three ties, also scoring 3-0 victories over Pacific Oceania and Kuwait.

They set up a promotional playoff tie against Kyrgyzstan, which finished second in Pool A with a 2-1 record. The winner will earn promotion to Group III.

In the other playoff matchup, Pool A leader Malaysia faces Qatar.

Former Davis Cup team manager and long-time tennis supporter Jean Henri Lhuillier lauded the efforts of the team, particularly the performance of Cebuana Lhuillier ambassadors Lim and Alcantara.

“This team embodies the spirit of Laban Pilipinas,” said Lhuillier, also president of Unified Tennis Philippines.

“The way they are playing right now—relentless and united—is exactly the kind of energy we need to get Philippine tennis where it belongs,” he added.

Click here to read article