By Jun Atienza
JEDDAH — The Idjao Tennis Foundation (ITF), under the supervision of ASTEC (Association of Tennis Clubs in Jeddah), launched its first team tennis tournament-for-a-cause recently. The event, which attracted 13 teams in Men’s Division and 8 teams in Ladies’ Division, moves around at different venues that offer free use of their tennis facilities.
In the Ladies Division, after two weeks of the round-robin phase, Fakeeh gained the first finals slot in the Lower Mix Category by edging Toyota Yayamanin with a single point, after splitting the two-set tussle 1(16) against their opponent’s 1(15) score. In the other semifinal match the two sets were likewise split 1-1 between Astec-Kagandahan 1(8), 0(3), and JIS Tennis Club, with the latter getting the other finals slot, on a score of 0(6)-1(8).
The Middle Mix Category (B1/B2) saw the top two teams in the round-robin phase, Fakeeh and Lanao Lakers Twisters upset by their respective opponents during the semifinals. JIS’s tandem of Rudill Mativo and Amor Idjao beat Fred Masangkay and Jonathan Contreras, 8-4, in the first set, while Fakeeh leveled the score at 1-1 set with its pair of Jomari Machitar/Ramil Abdua beating Egay Go/Dhuds Villanueva, 8-3. JIS took the deciding third set 8-4 through its tested pair of Rey Lacsina/Leo Lagdameo and claimed the first finals slot in this category.
In the other semifinal match, ASTEC-Bagwis turned the tables on its round-robin phase tormentor, Lanao Lakers Twisters, who previously thrashed them 3-0. Bagwis captain August Talavera paired with Nestor Pandac and took the first set, 8-5, against Lanao’s Amenico Benito and Faisal Maznar. In the second set, the untested tandem of Ica Grecia (Hazel) and Von Daligdig looked set to demolish Lanao’s pair of Manny Cabresos and Manding Saibeg as they initially romped with a 7-0 score, before the Lanao pair claimed 2 successive games. The recovery was however brief as Hazel closed the match at 8-2, with an overhead smash in the second match point to seal victory for Bagwis team, with an emphatic 2-0 score over Lanao. Bagwis will face JIS in the final of Middle Mix category.
Despite having no sponsors, ASTEC and ITF pushed through with this fund-raising activity as proceeds of the tournament will be given to the distressed OFWs in Jeddah, particularly the Saudi Oger employees who are currently stranded and have not received their remuneration for months. Early last month, ASTEC and ITF provided relief goods and sacks of rice to the workers of Saudi Oger, assisted by POLO/OWWA social welfare officers Mrs. Yolanda Penaranda and Mrs. Priscilla Razon from the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah.
ASTEC and ITF, through its Chairmen Bernie Soguilon and Francis Idjao, respectively, extend their heartfelt gratitude to the various tennis clubs in Jeddah who provided free use of their tennis facilities for this humanitarian and charity event, such as JISTC (Jeddah International School), SOGTC (Saudi Oger) Dr. S. Fakeeh Hospital and Toyota tennis clubs.
