For the first time in decades, home grown talents will make up the Davis Cup team that will face Indonesia in the first round of the Asia Oceania Zone Group I tie starting tomorrow at the Gelora Bung Karno Tennis Stadium in Jakarta.
Without Fil-Am players Treat Huey and Ruben Gonzales, the task to lead the country falls on Francis Casey Alcantara and teen sensantion AJ Lim.
Other members of the team are Jeson Patrombon, Jurence Mendoza, and John Bryan Otico.
Alcantara and Patrombon are both 26 years old, while Mendoza is 21. Both Lim and Otico are turning 19 in May.
Non-playing team captain Chris Cuarto is hopeful that they can pull off surprises in the two-day, best-of-five affair.
“It’s a new and young team and I think the players are deserving (to be selected for the team),” said Cuarto. “We have a good chance.”
The draw on who will play first will be known today.
Alcantara and Patrombon are no strangers in the Davis Cup atmosphere having played in the team since 2009 and 2011, respectively, with combined 19 ties, Lim first saw action last year while Mendoza and Otico are first-timers.
Like the PH squad, the Indonesians will also miss the services of veteran Christopher Rungkat.
The Indonesian team will be comprised of brothers David and Anthony Susanto, Justin Barki, Rifki Fitriadi and Althaf Dhaifullah.