Race may relinquish player-captain role

Jeff Race may very well be wearing a different hat when Pacific Oceania’s home tie against Lebanon in the Asia/Oceania Group II Davis Cup competition unfolds next March.

Race serves as team captain and alternate for the team but he may relinquish the latter spot in favor of another player. He said he would like to concentrate more in better preparing the team for the tie.

“Right now I expect that our core guys, Brett [Baudinet of Cook Islands], Juan [Langton of Samoa], and Michael [Leong of Solomon Islands] to be all back on the team next year. But as our budget is a bit bigger at this higher level, we will add another player rather than me being player-captain,” he said.

The many-time CNMI national tennis team player said he would select a fourth player from the last two Pacific Oceania teams. Race said the names of Leon Soonalole or Cyril Jacobe have come to mind.

He also said that there is also a new player he has become aware of. Race said the player’s name is West Nott and he hails from the Marshall Islands. He said Nott is also a strong contender for a spot in the Pacific Oceania team.

“Whichever four we decide we feel can best help the team win this first round is the team we will go with. There is still some time before any final decisions could be made, although I expect to pick the team a bit earlier this year to give the players who are definitely going the opportunity to gear up,” he added.

Pacific Oceania advanced to Group II play in the Davis Cup after topping its pool in Group III competition last April at the Phu Thu Tennis Center in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Leong, Langton, Baudinet, and Race went 4-0 in Pool B defeating Tajikistan, Syria, Bahrain and host Vietnam before losing to Pool A topnotcher Kazakhstan in the finals.

Race said since then his teammates have been very active in regional tournaments. Just recently, Baudinet defeated Langton in the Fiji Open finals. The two then went on to team up to a win in the doubles division.

“Brett can beat most anybody on a given day with his over 130mph serve and power game. I can’t say I’m surprised he did well in the Fiji Open,” said Race.

As far as where the home tie will be held, the Pacific Oceania Davis Cup captain said everything is still up in the air.

“We won’t know for a while yet where the home tie will be. So far I have heard that American Samoa and Cook Islands are interested in hosting the event. Whoever does it will need to make a big effort in organizing the tournament.”