JEDDAH, 14 December — The finals will decide who will get the winners trophy in Category C, B2 and B1 of the Najran Natural Mineral Water-AFTPA Year-End Team tennis tournament at Al Bilad Hotel.
Struggling to quarterfinals of Category C is under way as planned. Upper bracket Siyanco-DPA tested their first acid assignment when they overturned JETS 3-1. The team up of the speedy Jojo Torralba and Jun Mago of Siyanco crushed Larry and Pons Faustino 8-2; but failed to sustain the second game of Corly Obtinalla and Willy Ancheta downed 2-8 to the gritty and experienced Ruben Al Zate paired with the determined Erwin Pangan to secure the team score 1-1.
Nobody’s game in the third until an split score in the tiebreak 10/8 favored to Siyanco-DPA the feisty William Ledesma and Rey Anglo defeated the combination strategy of Rod Reyes and Dennis Manese unsuccessfully.
The deciding factor when Siyanco Roldan Empuerto and Edwin Abella sent Jets Philip Boulus and Eden Paras packing for 8-6 to seal a place in the semifinals against the hopes of SKAB-Warner Brothers. To the delight of the seeded team SKAB-Warner Brothers they defeated BCJ-TetraPak straight score 3-0.
The partnership of Jeffrey de Leon and Fred Flora trounced Joel de Castro and Arnel Laparan 8-5; Robert Salud and Pia Matwarat downed Rey Villaraza and Roel Consumo 8-6; Roberto Penpena and Gil Tingabngab overpowered Rodel Ricafort and Bong Siquijor 8-1.
In the lower Category C bracket, SKAB sister team SWCC also advance to semifinals at the expense of Saudia-Horizon 3-2 due to the later last pair defaulted the game.
It’s an oscillate battle of this ranked teams. SKAB Ric Manrique and Bert Forhueto crashed Romy Baquerfo and Ed Canotal. Saudia Leo Lutero and Efren Acena out played Leo Alpas and Boy Benitez 8-2. Not in contention situation pairing of Tata Amor and Roy Samonte were downed by the gritty Romy Sora and Alex Buencamino 2-8; the retaliation performance of Saudia’s Sol Bartolome and Joel Acosta conquered SKAB Renz Abanilla and Roland Acusar 8-1 a team leveled 2-2 in a disappointing situation of their last pair evasion. To complete the magic 4 to enter semis, Express Point — Bahlas National Carpet Factory captained and orchestrated by Orly Mamaril downcasted TBC-Al Jazzar in a convincing 3-0. Where, the first game was an exchange of clumsiness in tennis but Express Point Dado Malig and Noy Balingbing prevailed a tiebreak 10-8 against TBC Edwin Caldona and Alan Gultiano disapointment; Ely Mamaril and Gerry Ragunjan marched again to credible game in defeating Al Jazzar’s Aldous del Prado and Wilson Patubo.
The formulated strategy of Ed Mapa and Toto Agan demonstrated their opponents a place in the semis in trouncing the TBC quickness and liveliness pair of Gino Ruperez and Adrian Sagun 8-3.
Semifinals matches in Category C on track with a thump for SKAB-Warner Brothers captained by George Apolonio secured the slot in the finals trouncing the setback of Corly Obtinalla’s team Siyanco-DPA in a heart breaking fifth game challenge between Larry Ortega and Sem Cabaluna overpowered Bong Valenzuela and Nick Adolfo 8-6.
On the other hand, Bahlas National Carpet Factory-EP under the leadership of Orly Mamaril will face SKAB-Warner Brothers in the finals. BNCF downed SKAB-SWCC lead by Nick Bacalzo. Only the pair of Alex Buencamino and Romy Sora survived the scare of BNCF to seal the game.
The showdown in Category C finals will be determined who will be the new champion when the two eccentric clubs SKAB-Warner Brothers and Bahlas National Carpet Factory will struggle on Dec. 9.
Najran Natural Mineral Water represented by Raoul Eden is the major sponsor of this Year End Tennis Tournament, co-sponsors are Gandour, Pepsi Cola Bugshan, Reebok, and friends of AFTPA, the prop up of the competent executive members Rod Ramelb I, Gerry Nazaire, SergeTaga, Gerry Alcantara, Ding Miranda, Romy Payong, Nestor Sorosoro-the tournament Director and his assistants Art Pagaduan and Al De Lara.
Our deepest gratefulness having Ms. Joy Taga her lenient to AFTPA and indulgent to other players.
In exhilarating elimination matches of Category B1 between JETS and KAIA-Unasco, it lead the pair of Rommel Villanueva and Ady Banuelos of Jets Tennis Club to prove once more their superb expertise in displaying immense tennis in trouncing Ronnie Reyes and Jun Junio of KAIA 8-1; however the counter attack of the fashionable and well oriented Ed Manabat and Hermie Caluag of KAIA dispatched DJ Perez and Boy Prado resulted 8-3 win; an awful night for Rhodel Rina and Benny De Leon have not sustained to the splendid games exhibited by the JETS captain Rey Lianza and compatriot lefty Sonny Manangkil 6-8 score; but to the dismay of JETS Art Babaan and Sixto Baui failed to the dazzling and heroic game of Voie Reyes and Alex Pena of Unasco 4-8 tied the team score 2-2.
To the agony of Ms. Gina Woods, JETS manager, the decision game was not played as Alex Penaflor, left Manila earlier leaving Lito Dare empty handed to wrestle back his team in the driver seat were all in vain rather extending their spirited congratulatory expressions to KAIA-Unasco.
A further event on B1, SKAB downed BCJ-Toshiba/TetraPack 3-2 team score. First pair of SKAB Ruben Rosario and Nonie Fayo recorded 6 wins against 8 score for the impressive performance of George Garguena and Nilo Loremia.
A little bit shortfall for Toshiba’s Edwin Yap and Danny Canoy resulting to tiebreak 3-7 score, although their spirited and valiant games were inadequate to the rescue of the fast rising young star Jimboy Jimena and his matured warrior partner Romy Torres of SKAB to preserved the second game.
Next game was a regretful disappointment for BCJ as their pair of player failed to show allowed SKAB Art Simene and Moshen Yousef won by default. Toshiba’s BCJ Loy Escabusa and Bong Flosa dictate performance with responsive ability to overpowered Jimmy Sabarillo and Romy Paraiso 8-4 to tally a team score 2-2.
But to the rescue, a hasty thrilled weighty player Paul Lauchengco and swift compatriot Greg Damaso both demonstrated how to close the end game a heart breaking tie break score for SKAB 10-8 letting their colleagues going late night a triumphant victorious.
In Category B2 finals, subsequent in semifinals results, NCB-Areeco toppled APO — Bridgestone advance to Finals against Pogmatch as they defeated BNCF-Express Point. Whereas in Category B1 semifinals, SKAB-Warner Brothers will challenge BCJ-Toshiba/TetraPak while other bracket JETS to clash with KAIA-Unasco. Awarding ceremony will be held at Kandara Palace Hotel today at 7:00 p.m.
