Japan whips PHL netters to win Davis Cup

A fresher Go Soeda showed up to beat an exhausted Cecil Mamiit in four sets, enabling Japan to clinch the 2011 Davis Cup Asia Oceania Zone Group I tie Sunday at the scenic Plantation Bay Resort and Spa in Lapu Lapu City, Cebu. Go punished Mamiit with well-placed cross-court shots throughout the four-hour encounter for a 7-6 (5), 6-2, 3-6, 6-3, victory. The Japanese Davis Cuppers claimed their 18th win in 27 head-to-head meetings with the host country. The 34-year-old Mamiit, who played in all three days of action, including a tough five-hour, five-set loss to Tatsuma Ito last Friday, 6-4, 6-7 (5), 6-3, 6-7 (3), 9-7, gamely tried to hold his ground. He got the better of Go in the third set by breaking his opponent twice to claim a set win. But fatigue caught up with Mamiit in the next set as he found himself trailing, 1-4, with the 26-year-old Go breaking his serve in the fourth game. “I wanted to win it for you," said Mamiit after the game. “We gave our best and it's been a fantastic tie." The second reverse singles pitting Johnny Arcilla against Ito was not played anymore since it was already a no-bearing game. This is the fourth straight time Japan defeated the Philippines in the Davis Cup, although the Filipinos prevented a 5-0 sweep, which happened during the 1996, 2008 and 2010 meetings. Japan opened its campaign by bagging the two opening singles with Go pulling off a 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, straight-set win over Arcilla. The Philippines kept its hopes alive as Mamiit and Treat Huey joined hands for a 6-1, 7-6 (5), 6-2 win over the Japanese pair of Hiroki Kondo and Takao Suzuki in Saturday’s doubles match. The latest development had Japan getting a crack at advancing into the World Group Playoffs. The Japanese face Uzbekistan, which won its first-round match against New Zealand. The Philippines fell into a Playoff and must-win matches in their next two ties to remain in Group I for 2012. The first team to challenge the Philippines is New Zealand, slated in July, with the winner advancing into the final Playoff against either China or Chinese Taipei in September. Losers in the first and second round Playoff will be demoted to Group II. - KY, RCJ, GMA News