Push Admin

Tennis: National players frustrated as PH to miss Davis Cup

Article (news)

ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="Tennis action during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. Kori Quintos, ABS-CBN News" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/news/12/16/philta.jpg"/><figcaption>Tennis action during the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. Kori Quintos, ABS-CBN News</figcaption></figure></div>MANILA, Philippines -- Some of the country&#x27;s national tennis players have expressed their frustration at missing out on the Davis Cup, as the Philippines remains barred from competing in international events.This as the country&#x27;s national sports association for tennis, the Philippine Tennis Association (PHILTA), is in the midst of a two-year suspension meted out by the International Tennis Federation (ITF). PHILTA&#x27;s suspension, which came to light in December 2020, was due to issues on &quot;governance and representation.&quot;Treat Huey, the country&#x27;s veteran doubles specialist, said it was &quot;embarrassing&quot; that the federation remains suspended, keeping them from playing in the Davis Cup.The Philippine Davis Cup Team was supposed to play in Asia-Oceania Group 3 from September 15-18 in Amman, Jordan.&quot;It&#x27;s heartbreaking that I don&#x27;t have the opportunity to represent the country this week, and help us win and earn promotion to Group 2,&quot; said Huey. &quot;To have the team withdraw from the Davis Cup this year by the ITF because of the state of our tennis federation is truly sad.&quot;Another veteran, Ruben Gonzales, said he was looking forward to playing in the Davis Cup again, &quot;whenever that will be.&quot;&quot;Playing [in the] Davis Cup and representing my country has honestly been the biggest honor of my career,&quot; he said.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/03/20/pinoy-tennis-stars-call-on-philta-to-act-on-itf-ban">READ: Pinoy tennis stars call on PHILTA to act on ITF ban</a></li></ul>Meanwhile, Nino Alcantara also expressed his sadness at the situation, noting that he has been asked by some fellow players why they were absent from the competition.&quot;I&#x27;m really sad that we are banned from playing in the Davis Cup. A few friends of mine that are playing the tie in Jordan have messaged me asking why we are not playing and I just told them what happened and how we got banned by the ITF,&quot; he said.&quot;I wish all the teams there good luck and I hope they stay safe during the tie,&quot; he added.The Philippines was supposed to play against Hong Kong, Kuwait, Jordan, Malaysia, Pacific-Oceania, Qatar, Sri Lanka, Syria, and Vietnam.In December 2020, PHILTA president Atty. Antonio Cablitas said they were working on resolving the problems that caused their suspension by the ITF.<ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/12/16/20/philta-boss-assures-national-tennis-body-problems-will-be-resolved-soon">FULL STORY: PHILTA boss assures national tennis body problems will be resolved soon</a></li></ul>Cabiltas also expressed his belief that the reason behind their suspension is &quot;flawed,&quot; and accused a rival group of working in a &quot;clandestine manner that led to our suspension by the ITF so much so that we became isolated.&quot;At the time, the country&#x27;s national players were also advised to &quot;stay out of the PHILTA politics.&quot;

Some of the country's national tennis players have expressed their frustration at missing out on the Davis Cup.