SCTC mid-year tournament for 2013 under way

In line with the tennis calendar set by the current officers, Saudia City Tennis Club (SCTC) recently opened its mid-year Tennis Tournament 2013 (Doubles Challenge) at its home court at the Saudia City Compound grounds in Jeddah.
The scheduled month-long tournament which is supported by Pepsi courtesy of Ahmed El Mehelmy and Jess Batingal, attracted a total of 25 doubles entries in three different categories (C, B2 and B1), and is another milestone for current chairman, Rowell Cuasay, with able support from by Vice-chairman Benny Espina, club coordinator Froilan Lim, Treasurer Jon-jon Vidal, Technical Director Tata Amor and adviser-former chairman Boy Urquia with the rest of the 2013 set of officers.
Highlighting the tournament was the exciting singles exhibition match between Jeddah’s top two players El Mehelmy and Rico Gonzales. Mehelmy controlled the first set with his superior forehand ground strokes and textbook form backhands to close at 6-4.
Not to be outdone in the second set, Gonzales used his mastery of the natural spin of left-handed serves to score aces and win the set 6-3. With one set each, a third set super tie-break was played to determine the winner of the match. Here Gonzales used his speed and well placed drop shots to tire out Mahelmy and win the set at 12-6.
Participating in category C are Manny Santiago-Joel Lobitos, Abdullah Bakil-Vox Bakil, Pert Dino-Robert Gercayo, Arnel Romerosa-Fatima Rasul, Arman De Vera-Exan Dimarosing and Sonny Abe-Rachel Felix.
In the category B2 are: Efren Bulatao-Jess Batingal, Waleed Batestil-Dena Aquino, Albert Ramirez-Jon Jon Vidal, Song Pineda-Edith Espina, Ghassan Khafaji-Rad Mallari, Dr. Munir Agha-Ahmed Ahmed, Alex Yusoph-Menardz Logan, Rowell Cuasay-Froilan Lim, Efren Acena-Benny Espina, Emil Dy-Vans Viniegas, Sami Haqqani-Jun Amora, Cris Magno-Dang Bangit, Munib Usman-Mhouz Martinez and Voi Tejada-Tatah Egil.
Entered in category B1 are: Henry Siazon-Ricky Pasturan, Jun Amacio-Ernie Capito, Froilan Malapad-Erp Casilac, Rene Jamila-Roy Samonte and Boy Urquia-Haroun Ratag.