Fil-Am netter Huey is Mamiit’s new doubles partner

MANILA, Philippines – The Philippine Tennis Association (Philta) finally found a new partner for Fil-Am netter Cecil Mamiit as Treat Conrad Huey is set to join the national team in several international tournaments in 2009. The 23-year old Huey, whose mother hails from Samar, has agreed to represent the country in international tournaments such as the Davis Cup and the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games in Laos. Representing the country is not a problem for Huey since he had carried the national flag in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) Challengers and ITF Pro circuits. “He has very impressive credentials and will be of big help to the national team," said Philta vice president for development Randy Villanueva. Huey’s presence will further boost the Philippines’ Davis Cup campaign after defeats against Japan, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan dropped the Nationals to Group II from Group I last year. The relegation tie against Kazakhstan, which determined who will remain in Group I or who will be demoted, was a one-sided contest as Cecil Mamiit was left to carry the fight after the sudden retirement of partner Eric Taino. Mamiit will again return to help the national team said Villanueva. Huey is a doubles specialist and has 45 career wins. He has won three events and had three runner-up finishes last year. He is currently ranked 514th in the doubles by the ITF which is his highest so far. The Philippine Davis Cup team opens its bid of returning to Group I on March 6 to 8 against Hong Kong. Should they win, they will play the winner of the Pakistan-Oman tie in the Asia Oceania Zone Group II second round. Another win will push the Philippines in a Finals showdown and a seat in Group I against the finalist of the other bracket featuring Indonesia, Malaysia, Kuwait and New Zealand. Two other members of the RP Davis Cup team will be determined in the People's Championship set at the last week of February at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center. After the Davis Cup, the Nationals’ next big outing is the Laos SEA Games where the team hopes to defend its gold medal in the men’s singles courtesy of Mamiit, who is also aiming to win the doubles gold with Huey. – GMANews.TV