Philippine Sports News and Updates

The Philippine Lawn Tennis Association (Philta) has launched a fundraising campaign for the formation of the national team to the Davis Cup and the 2009 Southeast Asian Games in Vientiane, Laos in December.

Philta administrator Randy Villanueva on Thursday said over a radio interview that he is calling on all tennis buffs or those who have the capability to help the sport to donate whatever amount they can afford through the Philta Office at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila.

The funds to be raised will be used for the staging of the People's Tennis Championships in late February, a primary qualifying for the national team.

Likewise, the championships will give points for Philta player rankings.

International men's tennis member, Cecil Mamiit and Fil-American Treit Huey are considered shoo-ins to the team and are expected to breeze through the People's Championships.

The Philippines will have its first international stint on March 6, 7 and 8 in Hong Kong in the first round of the Davis Cup Tie Asia Oceania Group-ll.