By Roselyn B. Monroyo
Variety News Staff

PACIFIC Oceania will be fielding the same players it had last year when it plays New Zealand in the first round of the Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group 2 tie in North Harbour in Auckland next month.
Islanders non-playing captain Jeff Race of the Northern Mariana Islands Tennis Association said that Solomon Island’s Michael Leong, Juan Langton of Samoa, Brett Baudinett of the Cook Islands and West Nott of the Marshall Islands will be back on the team to challenge the Kiwis for the first time.
New Zealand has yet to name a team, but according to Race its top player was suspended and will not be playing in the tie, which will run from Feb. 11 to 13.
“I am not sure about his offense. But I learned it was sort of a steroid thing. He’s taking a supplement and he did not know it contained a banned substance,” said Race, who did not disclose the name of the New Zealand player, but said the Kiwi was ranked between No. 300 to 400 in the world.
“New Zealand’s next highest ranked singles player is No. 800 so among the three nations in our tie, we have a pretty good chance against New Zealand,” Race said.
“We have a pretty tall order this year and our goal is to remain in Group 2. We can do that if we win against New Zealand,” he added.
The Islanders’ next assignment will be either Pakistan or the Philippines with Pacific Oceania assured of a home court edge in the next round.
“Pakistan is a tough team, as they played in Group I last year. The Philippines is also a favorite as it won a bronze medal in the 2006 Asian Games in Doha Qatar,” Race said.
Pakistan was moved from Group 1 to Group 2 after losing all its three matches last year. The Pakistanis bowed to Chinese Taipei, China and India.
The Philippines was promoted from Group 3 to Group 2 after sweeping all their matches this year. The Filipinos downed Sri Lanka, Vietnam and Singapore. It will be bannered by Fil-Am netter and Asian Games bronze medallist Cecil Mamiit.
New Zealand won its opening tie against Lebanon, 5-0, but lost to Kazakhstan in the semifinals in the Group 2 tie, 2-3.
Pacific Oceania bowed to Hong Kong in the first round, 1-4, but retained its spot in Group 2 after tripping Malaysia, 3-2, at the Ligue Caledonienne de Tennis in Noumea, New Caledonia in April last year.
Meanwhile, Race will be leaving Saipan on Jan. 28, a few weeks before the tournament starts.
Race will be meeting the four Pacific Oceania players in Brisbane and will be supervising a series of practice sessions at the capital city of Queensland before proceeding to Auckland.