'Strongest Philippine team' faces Kuwait in Davis Cup

Filipino tennis stars are set to face Kuwait for their first match-up in the 2016 Davis Cup starting on Friday at the Valle Verde Country Club, Pasig City.

The team is composed of international veterans Treat Huey and Ruben Gonzales, as well as promising players Jeson Patrombon, Francis Alcantara, and Karl Sta. Maria.

They are grouped with Chinese Taipei, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam for the Asia-Oceania bracket in Group II.

Patrombon, a former world no. 9 in the juniors division, will open the campaign against Kuwaiti player Abdulrahman Alawadhi for the first singles match at 3 pm.

Gonzales, meanwhile, will take on Mohammad Ghareeb in the second match.

“This is the strongest Davis Cup team we have in recent years. I feel very confident on our chances of taking a 2-0 lead on the first day," said team manager Jean Henri Lhuillier.

Huey, who plays doubles in the ATP world tour, will pair off with Alcantara for the doubles match on Saturday.

The Filipino-American player is currently ranked world no. 36 in doubles and reached the quarterfinals in the 2016 Australian Open.

Huey is also a three-time gold medalist in the Southeast Asian Games. —Marisse Panaligan/JST, GMA News