JEDDAH, 19 April — Hempel-Jaforms team overall coordinator Reggie Sanosa of his resolute strategy during the final games of the two categories Unified B1B and B1 were suitably premeditated by fielding his titlist players in dispatching their closest rivalries at the highly favored APO team in the Unified B1B and the SKAB team in B1 category to seal the championship crowns for the 5th Seiko-AFTPA team tennis tournament at the tennis court of the Al Bilad Hotel.
In the first match, delightful games were executed by these protagonist players — APO’s captain Rexie Hermano and partner Gil Abayon cannot exploit their rhythms to shield the finesse games demonstrated by Popoy Macaampao and partner Benjie Usman giving ahead one set winning game to Hempel, 8-4. Following the second match, it’s different upshot via the determined and fast-rising youthful Jimboy Jimena of Hempel who survived the first score overpowered by the indomitable and talented Reden Luangco in dictating throughout the whole process of the game where the crowd elated these two top players performing an elegance of tennis games to score 1-8 for a 1-1 team tally. The final and decisive third game was thrilled and predictable verdict where the Hempel’s combination of Lito Dumas and Vooch Maniri proved they were confident and ahead in the seven games to 5-2 in displaying a soft touch and superb shot by Lito and the back up of Butch but they have not sustained until the unwavering blending of Jovy Abella and Addi Banuelos did well and turned the table to 6-5 in favor of the APO. Until a heart-breaking battled in the tiebreaker that has been a tough and sealed the match 8-6 to capture the last hurrah to Hempel-Jaforms as the new champion of this unified category.
Similar tactic has been employed by the Hempel-Jaforms under category B1 captained by Jun Amancio leaving SKAB team astonished and captured the crown. In the opener, Charlito Lazaga of Hempel struggled in defending the steady supremacy of the lefty Ruben Rosario of SKAB to a dynamic 8-2win. In the second match, the duo of Hempel’s Raymund Sy and Mel Fiesta posted an impressive score, 8-1 against SKAB’s Nonie Fayo and Bong Zafe. The retirement of Venus Layuso due to foot injury after 3 games of the third match against the spirited and energetic Jimboy Jimena, made SKAB team leading 2-1 score. The fourth game will be the SKAB chances to capture the crown but to the distrust of the high profile veterans Romy Torres and Art Simene it was slipped to favor the dramatic game performed by the gritty Benjie Usman and Vooch Maniri registering 10-8 score in the catastrophic clash tiebreaker.
Thus the Hempel team leveled a 2-2 score to progress the final event. Last match, feisty captain Jun Amancio of Hempel displayed his skill and talent dictating his opponent Mohisen Yahya to the marginal overwhelming 8-4 score to lift the crown of category B1.
Express Point-Bahlas National Carpet Factory on the other hand demonstrated an impressive final game to set out Hidada of the last 3 games to capture the B2 championship crown. Even though, Hidada unrelenting the first and second outings, which made supposedly a championship dream, but to the third games it resulted overturned the table in favour to BNCF. First outing, the pair of Francis Idjao and Ed Santiago of Hidada downed the duo of Cromwel Marzo and Ariel Lodor to 8-4 score. And the second first single was predictable winner by Marr Barro registering an impressive result 8-4 against Ben Briola of Bahlas.
Meanwhile, SV Tennis Club - Saudia Flyers bags the category C crown downed Basamh ñ Goody a team score 3-1. The flyers Leo Lutero and Roy Samonte recovered the scary games until the last breath of the tiebreaker downed the miserable Jojo Aran and Danny Mariano. It was an ahead score for Jojo and Danny 5-2 until they were attacked an inspiring performance to leveled the score at 6-6. A thrilled action when the Basamh lead again to 7-6 and established once more by the Saudia Flyers to 7-7.
In anticipation of tie, the Flyers pulled away to the finishing tiebreaker score 7-3. In the second match, Saudia Al Adzhar Ijiran proved more accurate in displaying his authority against challenger Andrew Villan to captured the winning score 8-3. Third match was too short of 2 games for Emil Dy and Sol Bartolome to close the final action when Basamh Rey Diega and Eric Abrantes success in lifting their team overturned them an ending score of 6-8. The fourth match is a verdict for both players Ariel Regis of Saudia neither to capture the crown nor Raul Pacupac of Basamh to extend another exciting end game.
This 2 months tournament is principally sponsored by Al Hussaini & Co. and Al Yahya Trading Co, the exclusive distributor of Seiko products in Saudi Arabia, Reebok (Zahid Tractor), Singapore Airlines, Najran Natural Mineral Water, Racquet Shop, Pepsi Cola Bugshan, and friends of AFTPA.
