By Cesar Q. Quilenderino
JEDDAH — Determined to gain the 2nd and last available slot for the final, Team SL tore apart the Team CC’s challenge during their concluding match last at the Abdulaziz University Sports Complex here. Eventually it unlocked a 3-way tie and paved the way for the championship match.
Ali Callanta/Ruben Alzate of Team SL blitzed the court with backbreaking shots in the early going of their match against Pol Fernandez/Gary Bautro of Team CC, played under category Legend, with a booming 5-1 lead after holding serves in their own 3rd and 5th service games, and breaking serves against Pol F and Gary B in the 4th and 6th service games, respectively. The SL pair maintained their lead at 7-2 before the CC pair exerted a token resistance for 3-7, but the consistent Ali Callanta/Ruben Alzate (undefeated so far in the tournament) nailed down an 8-3 win in the first set.
Team SL’s Moi Noto/Memed Darkum then handed down Team CC another double-trouble in Category B1/B2, cranking up stunning winners that brought them to 3-0, 5-1, and 7-2 leads against Fred Masangkay/Boy Isuga of Team CC, ending the 2nd set at 8-3 for SL’s another set victory. Fred M held serve in the 4th game, then helped breaking the service games of Memed D in the 7th, but the SL tandem blunted any attempt by their opponents to close in.
Team CC tasted victory at last in Category B2/B2 after their Mike Amerol/Rolly Bautista staged their own swift charge of 7-2 lead over Team SL’s Mario Betorio/Robert Rayos. The hard-hitting baseliner Rolly B came through with his service games in the 2nd, 6th, and 10th — the last being the match-ender at 8-2. Mike A also successfully held serves in his service games in the 4th and 8th games, whereas Team SL’s Robert R managed to win his serves in the 3rd and 7th games for the losing team.
Another pre-ending 7-2 game scores occurred in the 4th doubles, between Team SL’s Rolly Saldana/Hajji Pilongo and Team CC’s Celso Abella/Rik Maulion, that ended 8-3 at the hands of Rolly S and Hajji P for Team SL’s 4th set victory. The CC’s pair came close at 1-2 and 2-4 scores, but their last climb to 3-7 was their last gasp for recovery as the Team SL’s pair put a stop at 8-3.
Team SL’s Jim Bravo and Ben Salabin carved out their own 7-2 points advantage, which settled down the match at 8-2 against Team CC’s Allan Mabini/Vic Rebong. The SL duo won all their services games except the 3rd where Jim B lost his serves. Only once that Team CC won their service game, by Vic Rebong in the 4th game. Team SL brought home the victory, 4 sets to 1, and the right to play against Team LB in the championship.
