Sensing an opportunity to steal a Davis Cup victory in Taiwan, the Philippines opted to play its top singles players in Saturday's doubles, and the gambit almost paid off. With the best-of-five Asia/Oceania Group I playoff tie knotted at 1-1 after the opening day singles in Kaohsiung, the Philippines paired veterans Cecil Mamiit and Trent Huey in Saturday's pivotal doubles instead of Johnny Arcilla and Ruben Gonzales as planned. But Taiwan's duo of Yang Tsung-hua and Yi Chu-huan, who have played well together when given the opportunity, outlasted their more experienced foes 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (3), 7-6 (6) in three and a half hours to give the hosts a 2-1 lead. If Taiwan wins either of Sunday's reverse singles, it will clinch the encounter and avoid having to play another match against either South Korea or Uzbekistan for relegation to Asia/Oceania Group II. Yang will likely face Mamiit in the opening singles of the day, but it is not clear who Taiwan would send out if Yang were to lose and the tie came down to the final match. Taiwan's No. 2 player Chen Ti was forced to pull out of his singles match against Mamiit Friday with the score tied at a set apiece after he hurt his thigh. Taiwan has been in Asia/Oceania Group I since 2004, and by staying in the group, it would give itself another opportunity to qualify for a shot at the World Group -- the highest echelon of Davis Cup -- next year. Without the presence of Wimbledon quarter-finalist Lu Yen-hsun, Taiwan was whitewashed 5-0 by Australia in the first round of group play in March, consigning it to the relegation playoffs. 