David Thomas and Neal Towlson are the latest additions to Bermuda’s Davis Cup team from the one that competed at last year’s Davis Cup Americas Zone Group III tournament in Bolivia.

The pair have been named in Bermuda’s Davis Cup squad that also includes Gavin Manders, Jenson Bascome and non-playing captain and coach Ricky Mallory. Jack Keyes, Romar Douglas and Chris Weeks have been chosen as alternates.

The squad will travel to Palmas Del Mar, Humacao, Puerto Rico on May 31 to compete in the Davis Cup Americas Zone Group III round robin tournament on hard court at the Palmas Athletic Club with the aim of gaining promotion to the next tier for 2015.

Other countries competing include Bahamas, Costa Rica, Cuba, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Panama, Trinidad & Tobago and hosts Puerto Rico.

Participating countries will be divided into two pools of five teams at the captain’s meeting to be held June 1.

The winner of pool A will play-off against the runner-up in pool B and the winner of pool B will play-off against the runner-up in pool A to determine which two nations are promoted to Americas Zone Group II in 2015.

Bermuda produced its best Davis Cup showing to date at the previous Americas Zone Group III event in Bolivia where they recorded three victories in singles play in trying conditions at the Club de Tenis La Paz.

Leading the way was top player Manders who shrugged off a career-threatening injury to claim two of Bermuda’s wins. Nai’im Azhar, a late replacement for Thomas who was ruled out through work commitments, claimed the remaining victory.

“Last year we competed well and, had a few points gone our way, things may have been different for us,” Mallory said. “This year I have a strong feeling there will be some upsets on our side, and it could possibly be Bermuda’s first promotion to Group II.”

Bermuda have commenced their Davis Cup preparations much earlier than in previous years and chosen what Mallory feels is one of the “strongest” teams available.

“I think this is the first time since Michael Way, Donald Evans and I played Davis Cup that we are able to secure the service of the top four local players,” he said. “This is definitely the strongest possible team we could have chosen.

“The entire team have worked tirelessly on various aspects of the game and have also had some intense cross-training fitness routines. They are all pumped up and biting at the bit to start their 2014 Davis Cup campaign.”

The Davis Cup Americas Zone Group III tournament will be held June 2 to 7.