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Davis Cup: 38-year-old Pinoy ‘legend’ could hold the key vs favored Thailand

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ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="http://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2018/sports/04/06/johnny-arcilla-090316.jpg?ext=.jpg"/><figcaption>At 38 years old, Johnny Arcilla is being asked to show his winning form against Thailand in the Philippines&#x27; Davis Cup zonal tie starting on Saturday. File photo</figcaption></figure></div>National-team member and Davis Cup veteran Johnny Arcilla may hold the key to beating Thailand in the Philippines&#x27; Asia-Oceania Group II tie starting Saturday at Philippine Columbian Association in Paco, Manila.The Filipinos are aching for revenge against the Thais after absorbing a 5-0 drubbing on the same stage in Bangkok last year.“He knows the shell-clay courts of the PCA like the back of his hands,” PH Davis Cup administrator Martin Misa said, referring to Arcilla, 38. “He’s the winningest player in the PCA Open so we are banking a lot from him.”<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="http://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/04/03/18/davis-cup-tough-test-awaits-filipinos-as-they-host-thailand-in-asian-zonal-tie">Davis Cup: Tough test awaits Filipinos as they host Thailand in Asian zonal tie</a></li></ul>That’s also the reason why Francis Casey Alcantara picked him as his doubles partner.“He’s the legend in this court so we hope we can use it to our advantage,” he said.Even AJ Lim acknowledged that he received valuable tips from the country’s erstwhile No. 1 player and 8-time PCA Open champion.“He gave us tips during our almost three weeks of training, so we are ready for the Thais now,” said Lim, who is likely be nominated to play in the singles events.The singles matches are scheduled Saturday, while the doubles will be held Sunday morning and the reverse singles matches are in the afternoon. (For more sports coverage, visit the <a href="http://sports.abs-cbn.com/">ABS-CBN Sports website.</a>)

Johnny Arcilla knows the PCA shell-clay courts "like the back of his hands," one team official says.

Johnny Arcilla knows the PCA shell-clay courts "like the back of his hands," one team official says.