By Jun Atienza
JEDDAH — After nearly more than a month of daily intense competition among the various tennis clubs in Jeddah, ASTEC (the Association of Tennis Clubs) successfully concluded its 32nd tournament, the 11th Albaik Sportsfest Challenge 2019, so-called because Volleyball games were added in the competition. The tournament elimination rounds, which attracted about 50 teams in both men’s and ladies divisions, was held in the tennis court facilities of Trio-Ranch Country Club while the knock-out phase moved to Al Bilad Hotel tennis courts.
The winners were honored in the Awards Ceremonies held at the Mira Hotel recently, which was attended by representative from the Philippine Consulate General Office Bugshan Tendegaranao, Trade & Investment Center-DTI, and Hassan Al-Bargi and Ed Cabiedes, representing the major sponsors, Albaik.
Plaques and certificates were handed out to other tournament sponsors – AQUAFINA, QuickPay, Skyfreight Forwarders, Toshi Restaurant, Uncle Majed Rice & Toppings, Unifed AXN, The Filipino Channel, while trophies were distributed to all winners. A sumptuous dinner capped the event to bring down the curtain for the year-ending tournament.
Recipients of Special Awards for Best Doubles are: Cat “C” – Junaid Bara / Marconi Jamel (JRTC-2); Cat “Lower Mix” – Ben Consolacion / Romelito Albanina (Hidada Tennis Club; Cat “Middle Mix” – Ricky Delgado / Ameco Benito; Cat “Higher Mix” – George Bornales / Melvin Rama. In the Ladies Division the Best Doubles awardees are: Cat “B2” – Jade Callueng / Bing Cabuquin (JIS Tennis Club); Cat “Mixed Doubles” – Marie Ann Labrador/Abner Cailer (DSFH Tennis Club).
AMSUDA Tennis Club was awarded the Best in Uniform trophy, with Lanao Lakers and Dr. S. Fakeeh Hospital tennis clubs as 2nd and 3rd placers, respectively. DPWorld Tennis Club took the award for the Best in Traditional Costume.
In team competition, AMSUDA Tennis Club, a new-name in tennis tournaments, bagged the major awards with two championship titles in Categories “Higher Mix” and “Middle Mix” in the Men’s Division. Jeddah Ranao Tennis Club JRTC, a perennial champion team, took the Category “B2”, while Toyota-Ohana Farmland and Hidada Tennis Club split the titles in Category “C” and “Lower Mix”, respectively.
In the Ladies Division, the new addition of Volleyball in the competition with eight teams participating, was bagged by Dr. Samir Abbas with Fakeeh Hospital warrior as runner-up. JIS Tennis Club romped away with two titles in Category “B2” and “Mixed doubles”, while Dr, Soliman Fakeeh Hospital tennis Club took the major trophy in Category “C”.
Likewise the addition of new category (Legends) participated by tennis players aged 58-above, has added more fun to team competition, with players who may have retired from active tennis competition, again returned to play. This initial Legends category attracted three teams, with Toshi Restaurant, captained by Ed Forrosuelo, bagging the championship award.
