Thursday, July 17, 2008 Guba's chances for Davies Cup slot brightens
IF RP tennis officials were to be believed, the country's chances to stay in the elite Asia-Oceania Zone Group I Davies Cup category may have suffered a major snag with the announcement this week that RP No. 2 player Fil-Am Eric Taino and non-playing captain Manny Tecson have begged off from participation in this year's Davies Cup wars.
But as far as Negrense RP No. 3 Yannick Guba is concerned, this might be the break he has been hoping for all along for him to finally break into the ranks of the RP national lineup for the Davies Cup competition.
The Philippines is set to tangle against Kazakhstan in a relegation tie which will send the loser tumbling back to Group II next year.
Guba, a native of La Carlota City, Negros Occidental, and one of three tennis siblings of former Philta (Philippine Tennis Association) regional official Socrates and Nimfa Guba, has been playing well lately, posting notable wins against the likes of Davies Cuppers Rolando Ruel, Patrick John Tierro and Johnny Arcilla in several legs of the last summer circuit where he topped the Lucena City Open and finished runner-up behind Tierro, whom he beat in Lucena, in the succeeding Lhuillier Cebu Open.
Guba is being supported by the Negros Occidental Cultural and Sports Foundation (NOCSF) together with younger sister and national age-group standout Martina.
Taino, a double gold medalist in the 2005 Manila SEA Games, sent his resignation from the team without detailing his reasons. He has been reported as having been offered a coaching job in LA.
Along with Cecil Mamiit, another Fil-Am, Taino was instrumental in helping the Philippines regain its seat in Group I after being demoted to Group III for the second time in 2006.
Reports from Manila on Wednesday said Philta is looking at the possibility of selecting a local player based on the national rankings to replace Taino, and will also choose from the national coaching staff on who would replace Tecson.
Philta is expected to finalize the RP Davies Cup team within the month even as local team members Tierro and Arcilla are reported to be currently training individually for the coming tie.(HCV)
