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Filipino netters sweep Pakistan in Davis Cup tie
The Philippine Davis Cup team swept the second round of the Asia/Oceania Group II tie defeating Pakistan to officially advance into the third round where a promotion to the next group is at stake.
The Filipino netters formalized their dominance against a shorthanded Pakistani team with Francis Casey Alcantara and Johnny Arcilla dispatching separate foes Sunday at the Philippine Columbian Association courts in Paco, Manila.
Alcantara, the former juniors standout making his return to the Davis Cup play after a stint with Fresno State in the NCAA, defeated Muhammad Abid, 6-2, 6-1. Arcilla, who set the pace for the Philippines’ sweep by nailing the first singles match of the tie, wrapped it up with a straight set victory over Yasir Khan, 6-3, 6-4.
The Philippines never dropped a set in the tie against Pakistan en route to a third round showdown with Indonesia on September 14 to 16 with the winner advancing to Group I.
Pakistan played without its top player Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi as the 2010 finalist in mixed doubles and men’s doubles in the US Open reportedly pulled out of the competition due to a knee injury.
The tie started Friday despite falling on a Holy Week to synchronize with the other Davis Cup matches around the world.
Arcilla began the tie with a 6-2, 6-2, 6-3 victory over Ageel Khan while Treat Huey made it 2-0 after he defeated Yasir Khan, 6-1, 6-0, 6-3, moving one victory away from a seat into the next round.
Huey and Ruben Gonzales teamed up in the doubles competition on Saturday to defeat Ageel Khan and Yasir Khan, 6-1, 6-4, 6-2, to seal the win.
