By Jun Atienza

JEDDAH — Albaik Food Systems Company in partnership with the Association of Tennis Clubs in Jeddah (ASTEC) commenced last weekend the staging of the much-awaited annual year-ending tennis event — the 11th Albaik Sportsfest Challenge 2019, with the addition of other sports and cultural activities, at the sprawling facilities of the Trio-Ranch Country Club

Participants and spectators were treated to the fanfare and colorful parade of various teams in their uniforms, with some teams having their mascots wearing regional traditional costumes.

Bassam Al-Seyofi, PR manager of AlBaik Food Systems, attended the event and thanked all attendees and participants as well as ASTEC for their continued collaboration in providing quality events to sports community in Jeddah. Representative from the Philippine Consulate General in Jeddah, Bugshan Abdullah Tendegaranao, from the department of trade and industry, also delivered an inspirational message to all the participants.

In this 32nd edition of the tournament, ASTEC has added volleyball in the event, as well as the inclusion of the Legends Category to allow tennis players 58 years old and above to participate.

Highlighting the event after the parade of teams was the choice of special awardees for the Best in Uniform and Best in Costume.

AMSUDA, a newly-organized tennis Club, won the 1st Place award for Best in Uniform, with Lanao Lakers and Dr. S. Fakeeh Hospital tennis clubs in the 2nd and 3rd place respectively. The new award for the Best in Costume was awarded to DPWord Tennis Club, with their representatives donning the traditional Flores de Mayo attire being celebrated all over the Philippines.

After the opening ceremonies, actual Ladies Division matches in Category “C” ensued, JIS Tennis Club’s tandem of Donnabel Medrano / Aileen Feliciano drawing first blood, 8-4 against the pair of Luchie Medrano / Grace Aquino of Toyota Tennis Club.

The second set was likewise won by JISTC’s Edna Alvaran / Jocelyn Sabio winning a tight contest ay 8 – 6 against Armie Sales / Vangie Dalisay, for a straight-set victory.

The tournament, which is expected to run until Nov. 22, has attracted the participation of 51 teams (41 Men's teams and 10 for the Ladies Division), despite the distant location of the current venue at Trio-Ranch, which has 4 tennis court facilities.

Organized by ASTEC under the helm of its current Chairman Marlon Pagsanjan, Tournament Director Miller Narvas, with Bernie Soguilon as Adviser, this 32nd ASTEC tournament is presented in partnership with Albaik Food Systems, Inc. and co-sponsored by Pepsi-Cola / Aquafina, and supported by Toshi Asian Restaurant, Uncle Majid Rice and Toppings, Skyfreight Fowarders, Unified AXN, QuickPay, and ABS-CBN’s The Filipino Channel.