Sarimanok, RSTP, Saudia Catering go top in Astec tournament

Category MMX defending champion Sarimanok handed RSTP-2 a 3-1 drubbing to top Group 1 bracket with an immaculate 4-0 record.
Both teams reversed roles in in B2 category as RSTP took one against Sarimanok with a 2-2 win via points (27-23) to pace their group at 3-1. In LMX category Saudia Catering scored an easy 4-0 win against shorthanded Astec for its second victory as the elimination round in the 25th Astec Team Tennis Challenge drew to a close with more compelling action in store nightly at the tennis courts of Sheraton and Al-Bilad Hotels for the succeeding knockout matches.
Sarimanok had a chance to score a knockout were it not for its no-show in the third set which gave RSTP-2 its only point as Froi Malapad and Galvin Collantes were awarded the 8-0 win after Michael and Al Manarandong could not suit up for the match. In the first set, Ayman and Sammy Macapaar scored an 8-4 win against Wayne Cruz and Domelo Gesto while in the second set, Alama Macapaar and Nash Mangotara propelled to an 8-3 victory over August Talavera and George Almes. A tense fourth set was decided by tiebreak as Noor Halil and Alimbsar Umpa held on to close the set and the match for Sarimanok against the hard fighting Khalid and Randy Martin.
It was a very close match also between the two clubs in their category B2 encounter. With the first set won by Sarimanok at 8-7 with Sammy Macapaar and Ed Belen against Ramzi Ali and August Talavera, RSTP countered in the second set when Ron Valdez and Agot Delas Alas scored an 8-6 win over Alex Modi and Ali Sakay.
The third set singles play was taken Noor Hadji Halil for Sarimanok, 8-4 over Majeed Bukhari to post a 2-1 lead. In the deciding fourth set, Galvin Collantes and Vic Alvaran made sure that victory would not escape them when they coasted to an 8-1 win against Michael and Farouk Salacop to tie at 2-2 and win via points 27-23.
Saudia Catering, on the other hand, had a easy night clobbering Astec 4-0. Scoring an 8-1 win in the first set featuring Gamal and Dr. Mounir against Jun Tomas and Romy Romero, then an 8-0 win in the second set by Sammy Macapaar and Farouk Salacop over Gary Bautro and Ellie Baltar.
Third set was a walkover for Saudia Catering claiming an 8-0 win for Rafael and Nick Catimbang when Romy Sorra and Arnold Perez could not pair likewise in the fourth set as Alex and Arturo were awarded the 8-0 win over a defaulting Oca Lovitos and Chet Bautista.
Organized by Association of Tennis Clubs (Astec) Jeddah, this team tennis tournament is supported by Deltaz Marketing (Racquet Shop) through Tony Kassis, Maher Tebakhi and Amin Malik.