JEDDAH, 10 October 2003 — AFTPA proved the tougher team, fending off fourth seed SRL and grabbed the Mix Category Trophy at the conclusion of the Cabalen Tennisfest held at the Sheraton Hotel Tennis courts.
Earlier AFTPA gained a spot in the finals and was pushed to a deciding set by second seed APO to prevail 2-1, while SRL overcame a woeful start in the deciding set but scrambled to a dramatic victory against top seed SG-Mr. Butcher.
In the finals, AFTPA got off to a solid start as Edwin Agullana and Rhill Macapagal broke serve twice to lead 5-2, against Omar Magno and Adrian Sagun.
With a held serve by Sagun to inched closer, 3-5. AFTPA bolted with the next three games, held two breakpoints and break serve anew, to win 8-3.
In the second set, AFTPA eluded defeat, trailed Ruben Alzate and Jhun San-Gregorio 1-3, but Boy Cornejo and Dominic Dadal held serve twice and broke serve to move ahead 4-3. SRL responded with a held serve to level 4-4.
AFTPA threatened to finished off the match rolled the next two games to lead 6-4, only to lose it again, as SRL stayed on course and blistered the next three games to lead 7-6, to survive and hoped for a deciding set.
With SRL serving for the match, AFTPA came back with a 4-0 win as SRL failed to closeout the match.
Inspired by the home crowd and buoyed with the win to force a tiebreak, AFTPA proved steadier in the endgame and clinched victory. The other players of the teams include Ed Narvaez, Gerry Alcantara, Gino Ruperez (AFTPA) and Royce, Lagarde, Ricky Zabate, Celso Salenga (SRL).
