RIYADH, 30 November — The Fall Season 2001 for Nike RTTL, participated in by 23 teams from various hospitals, government and private institutions and residential compounds, started Sept. 4 till the final round on Nov. 9. The teams had 8 to 11 players and ranked according to their tennis skills and grouped into six divisions for each team to be on the same competitive level. After 10 weeks of grueling yet exciting tennis, the total league points earned by each team were calculated to determine who are “the best of the best” for Fall Season 2001.
RTTL is recognized as the pioneer sport institution organizing team tennis events twice yearly — Fall and Spring Seasons since 27 years ago. It has provided the tennis players in Riyadh, from beginners to professionals, a good venue to play tennis competitively, make friends, have fun and keep up a healthy lifestyle as embodied by the RTTL theme — Friendship, Fun: Through a Fair Game of Tennis for a Lifetime.
Farouk El-Laithy is the chairman of RTTL committee administering the tennis events since its inception. Working in the committee are the two Vice Chairs, Larry Bustamante and Amor Robles with Manny Lector, Bong Cortes and Carmen Santos as members. Division representatives who were elected by the team captains complement the committee in overseeing the activities for the Season. They are Chris Balint, Division One; Richard Lucardie, Division Two; Adel Lopez, Division Three; Herman Honrado, Division Four; Nel Lorenzo, Division Five and Mohamed Alyani, Division Six.
In Division One, it had been a close competition among the three participating teams ñ King Faisal Specialist Hospital, King Abdulaziz Medical City Tennis Club and Vinnel Arabia I. After playing in triple round robin matches, King Faisal Specialist Hospital emerged the champions without a match lost. The tennis team representing the King Abdulaziz Medical City Tennis Club, led by the top ranked Saudi national tennis player, Othman Al-Enezi and the Recreation Coordinator of the King Fahad National Guard Hospital, Rene Leis capped the second place, The champion team and also awarded as the most organized team, King Faisal Specialist Hospital had Sonny Santos and Randy Vilan as team captain and assistant team captain. The members were E. Cabilangan, G. Harris, W. Biay, E. Veradyo, L. Hoyumpa, H. Simolde, G. Ege and M. Quilang. The special awardees in this division were: Best Male Player: O. Al Enezi (KAMCTC), Best Female Player: H. Simolde (KFSH)
Best Sportsmanship Male Player: Alvin Ebreo (KAMCTC) and Best Sportsmanship Female Player: Betsy Costumbrado (KAMCTC).
In Division Two, four teams competed for the championship which was captured by Al Yamama having been undefeated in all of its matches. D’Radicals and Eid Villas were racing closely for the runner up position. When the last match was played in the final round, both teams had equal league points (6), but Eid Villas prevailed as it obtained the higher score difference. The Al Yamama team was composed of C. Barabas (Team Captain), C. Campbell (Assistant Team Captain), T. Velasco, Peter Casey, R. Lucardie, A. Chlouk, A. Cucu, Z. Faisal, J. Smith, C. Medigan and F. Ogaick. On the other had, the runner up team of Eid Villas had T. Javed (Team Captain), S. Al Afghani (Assistant Team Captain), M. Thomas, H. Ahmed, A. Javed, J. Norris, R. Sardar, A. Chappel, L. Skepper, J. Miller and A. Dalgish. The promising junior members of this team, A. Javed and H. Ahmed had been triumphant in earning the lead points for the team by surprisingly beaten their opponents many years their senior. The special awards were given to DíRadicals Tennis Team, Most Organized Team, Best Male Player: F. Ziauddin (YAM), Best Female Player: F. Ogaick (YAM), Best Sportsmanship Male Player: P. Casey (YAM), Best Sportsmanship Female Player: K. Campbell (YAM).
In Division Three, the five participating teams finished their matches way ahead of the schedule. Nearly two weeks before the end of the season, the total score statistics were calculated and the winners were known while all other teams were still struggling to earn league points. The champion team, KAMC/ATTIEH MEDICO which earned 8 league points was headed by C. Santos as team captain, assisted by L. Fantone. The members were C. Lintag, R. Cepe, A. Sadawi, B. Cardinal, T. Almonte, B. Depakakibo, M. Rabago, M. Dujale and J. Bagasala. Victor Inoferio and A. Articona, Team Captain and Assistant Team Captain, respectively of the J&V 2001 maneuvered its strategies to earn 6 league points and took the runner up place. The members: R. Onias, P. Pagulayan, T. Flores, C. Esplanada, P. Manalo, R. Torres, J. Zafires, J. Gumaru and D. Almazan. The special awards were Most Organized Team: J & V 2001, Best Male Player: R. Onias (J&V2001)m, Best Female Player: M. Rabago (ATTMED), Best Sportsmanship Male Player: R. Angeles (KJ-SFHP), Best Sportsmanship Female Player: M. Stamer (NAJD).
In Division Four, there was a twist in the final result when the championship match was played between Security Forces Hospital and Siemens Networks. Siemens Networks, leading the four teams in this division from the beginning, was expected to be the champion but suffered a fatal blow when the team lost to Security Forces Hospital in the last round. Security Forces Hospital Program had R. Senson (Team Captain), H. Honrado (Assistant Team Captain), D. Serrano, J. Evangelista, J. Pineda, L. Ramirez, I. Lata, F. Basilio and H. Agustin. Siemens Networks was headed by Bong Cortes (Team Captain, Ehlott Syfu, Assistant Team Captain, C. Arnaiz, N. de Leon, J. Abiera, B. Cebrian, C. Sanz, W. Tayone, B. Flores and L. Ontar The special awards were Most Organized Team: KFSH- Net Ralliers, Best Male Player: B. Cebrian (SN), Best Female Player: H. Agustin (SFHP), Best Sportsmanship Male Player: D. Serrano (SFHP), Best Sportsmanship Female Player: F. Basilio (SFHP).
Results in Division Five confirmed excellent screening and selection of the four participating teams. The teams have defeated one another and interestingly, till the last match was played by these four teams, the winners could not be predicted. RZM which continued to win in the first round till midway to the second round had lost to STC and KAMC/MAK1. This gave chance to KFNCCC&R to vie for the championship when they defeated the two teams which defeated RZM. Eventually, the winners are: Champion - Ramon Zenaida Mark Apartel. Team Captain: R. Flores, Asst Team Captain: V. Alegre and members were : R. Farinas, M. Ingal, R. Ante, E. Noble, F. Ringor, E. Galvez, J. Valdez, and N. Maynes. The runner up team - King Fahad National Centre for Children’s Centre & Research which was headed by M. Carido (Team Captain) and I. Camarse (Assistant Team Captain). The members were J. Aday, J. Anulacion, F. Cecogo, H. Ahamat, B. Caniete, J. Carido, R. Flora, T. Rapadas and S. Marasigan. The special awards were Most Organized Team: King Abdulaziz Medical City/Makateb2, Best Male Player: B. Joson (STC), Best Female Player: T. Padilla (KAMC/TC), Best Sportsmanship Male Player: F. Cecogo (KFNCCC&R), Best Sportsmanship Female Player: M. Carido (KFNCCC&R).
Division Six is participated in by three teams composed of amateur players who were mostly first timers to RTTL. King Faisal Specialist Hospital, the champion team which was undefeated and earned 12 league points, had young promising players who successfully overcame the anxiety and tension of playing competitive tennis and had fun in swinging their racquets. The runner-up team, KAMC/Mediserv gathered 6 league points, half of the total points earned by the champion team. The third team, Security Forces Hospital without a win to their credit, ended as the least experienced. The King Faisal Specialist Hospital6 was composed of A. Gutierrez (Team Captain), C. de Vera (Assistant Team Captain), S. Minas, P. Davodas, M. Alyani, R. Quilacio, R. Suarez, A. Suarez, M. Quilacio, B. Quilacio, A. Robles and A. Cambridge.
KAMC/MEDISERV was composed of M. Asana (Team Captain), C. Lintag (Assistant Team Captain), and members were S. Stelian, A. Buencamino, R. Gaitano, A. Medina, N. Olanda, N. Morales, E. Manio, E. Depakakibo, P.M. Bulanhagui and J. Garcia. The special awards were Most Organized Team: King Abdulaziz Medical City/Mediserv Best Male Player: M. Alyani (KFSH6).
Best Female Player: M. Asana (KAMC/MEDISERV)
Best Sportsmanship Male Player: A. Buencamino (KAMC/MEDISERV)
Best Sportsmanship Female Player: M. Quilacio (KAMC/MEDISERV)
The traditional awarding ceremony to honor the winners and special awardees was held on November 2001 at the Najd Compound. Trophies and certificates were distributed by the major sponsor, Sport Ghornatah, the official distributor of NIKE products in the Kingdom. The tournament event was supported as well by BISON Energy Drink and Pepsi Al Jumaih Bottling Company. Honorable guests who graced the occasion were Mr. Hatem Saleh Yassin, Sales Manager, Abuljadayel Beverages, Inc.; Khalid Al Rabia, Sponsorship Officer, Pepsi Al Jumaih Bottling Company and the distinguished representatives from Sport Ghornatah. The event was highlighted by the raffle draw of big and numerous prizes for the attending winners and guests. Nowhere and at no time did it happen that everybody who attended the function had an exciting, fulfilling and joyful experience. Only the Nike RTTL way!
