JEDDAH, 18 July 2007 — The ALJ Recreation Center is the venue of an expected war of attrition between two very strong, tall and athletic teams, Madina Lions and ALJICO/Al – Saady, today in the championship match of the 1st ALJ-JAFC Volleyball Tournament here. The winner will not only earn the championship trophy, but the bragging rights as well of being the first champion of the hotly contested tournament.
The road to the finals was never easy. The two teams have to go through the very tight elimination round and squeezed through the even more difficult quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. From the total of 12 bracketed into two divisions, the teams were pruned down to the best eight in the quarters and four in the semis.
In the semifinal matches, while ALJICO/ Al – Saady sat on the privilege of winning by default over ALJ Program for Social Services, the Madina Lions escaped through the proverbial “needle’s eye” overcoming the stubborn Toyota Yaris team in two straight sets, 25-23, 30-28. The Yaris boys headed by the hard fighting duo of Jerry Lagrimas and Mikee Protacio succumbed to the attacks of the Madina team anchored on the combination of Saeed Al-Ghamdi, Ahmed Sherif, and Mazen Hizam propelling the Lions into the much anticipated championship match-up against the ALJICO/ Al -Saady team led by Hussam Abdullah and Ali Maimani.
In tennis action, the tandem of Ray Ong and Arnold Perez continued their amazing string of surprise wins by beating the heavily favored duo of Tony dela Chica and Jose Al Tavass, 8-2. In Group A, Ricky Delgado and Jun Terrones defeated Rolly Pineda and Lito de Mesa, 8-2, while Ben Consolacion and Carlo Guese won by default over Royce Lagarde and Ricky Gatan. The ladies division had Arlene Terrones and Gina Perez scraping past Evelyn Reyes and Dories Terrones 8-6, and Jhoan dela Chica teaming up with Vicky Masdo in the identical 8-6 win over Dhess Repolles and Edith dela Chica.
