Chet Bautista
JEDDAH — Issham International-Uricane team narrowly defeated team SCTC 2(26)-2(24) posting its second win to finish its eliminations round with a record 2-1 card to grab 2nd spot in Category B2 Group 1 as it moves into the next round.
SSS Black Tigers, meanwhile, kept its hopes of advancing alive with a win against Tetra-Pak 2(28)-2(21) in their Category B1 encounter. In the Category LMX, it’s still a wide-open race as Astec-Deltaz beat Al-Madinah Printing 3-1.
Games go into a high gear as all teams put on their best to catch the remaining berths in the next round of the 7th Al Baik Tennis Tournament 2015 played at the sprawling courts of Trio Ranch Country Club in Jeddah.
Issham International’s Uricane B2 team took the first two sets. Tuffs Laguindab and Anuar Laguindab won the 1st set against SCTC’s Joel Sacal and Ernie Capito 8-2 and Boy Castillo downed Albert Ramirez in the 2nd set singles 8-6.
SCTC’s Ramil Abdua and Amin Paraji, however, countered in the 3rd set winning 8-3 against Ronnie Organo and Joe Espiritu. But Uricane’s Nilo Borata and Egay Go fought hard to bring the 4th set to tie-break at 7-7. That statistically made them the winner on points even though the set was won by Rowell Cuasay and Michael Landrito 8-7 making the final tally of 2(26)-2(24) in favor of Uricane.
Uricane’s other team in the LMX Category was not as successful though as it lost against SOFTC when their match ended 2-2 after four sets with the scores tied at 23-23. Based on rules a super tie-break had to be played to break the deadlock which SOFTC won 12-8.
In the B1 Category, team SSS Black Tigers fought tooth and nail in the 1st set as Saleh Salem and Mohammed Al-Ghamdi bested Tetra-Pak’s Lito Dare and Bibit Dela Torre 8-5. Then with a stroke of luck Tigers’ Yayha Maalof won via a walk-over against Ahmed Aref, who did not show up, to log an 8-0 win and post a commanding 2-0 lead with an 11-point advantage. Tetra-Pak tried to get back in the match as Marlon Delfin and Lito Homol won the 3rd set via a tie-break 8-7 against Tarek Annahari and Malek Al-Zahrani and also took the 4th set with Loi Escabusa and Fred Masangkay teaming up to beat Ali Asgar and Yousef Al-Gozi 8-5. This put the match at 2-2 sets but Black Tigers led the scores with 28-21 and was declared the winner.
In Category LMX, Astec-Deltaz broke into the win column after two tries when it beat Al-Madinah Printing & Publication 3-1. Marlon Pagsanjan and Jhun Delos Reyes drew first blood with an 8-3 win over Jojo Alipante and Lito Patriarca. This was followed in the 2nd set with an 8-2 win by Cats Catalan and Jeremy Conrado over Jhojo Lontac and Ruben Dunque. Al-Madinah took the 3rd set when Darryl and Harlie Conchas edged Romy Sorra and Ed Forrosuelo. But Astec team captain Jun Atienza would not let the team slip as he partnered Alito Macadat to win the 4th set 8-3 over Ronnie Alvarez and Obet Arpon to chalk the final score of 3-1.
Over at Category C, ATP-Mon finally barged into the winning column at the expense of Samahang Pinoy Tennis Club. Team ATP-Mon broke the ice when Mon Mendoza and Boy Liwanag took the 1st set 8-6 over Mike Amerol and Rik Maulion. Coasting on the 2nd set singles was Jun Quano against Eman Usman with an 8-3 win to forge a 2-0 score. That was followed by the 3rd set 8-5 win of Art Gariga and Miller Narvais against Roy Timtiman and Pol Fernandez. Not to be outdone was the 8-4 win of Louie Abalos and Edwin Aquino over Mario Betorio and JM Bravo in the 4th set to complete the 4-0 sweep.
Organized and managed by the Association of Tennis Clubs in Jeddah (Astec) under the helm of its current chairman Bernie Soguilon and Tournament Director Tonton Pana, this 28th ASTEC team tennis tournament is presented in partnership with Al Baik Food Systems Co. Ltd. represented by assam Al-Seyofi (PR manager), Ed Cabiedes (branch manager) and Mazza Farajallah (Corporate Social Responsibility coordinator) and is supported by Deltaz Marketing (Racquet Shop), Sky Freight Forwarders and Pepsi.
