JEDDAH, 25 July 2003 — Seiko-Sportstura clinched the Mixed category crown convincingly against the powerhouse Saudi Oger team in the ongoing 7th Seiko-AFTPA Team Tennis Challenge being played daily at the Al Bilad and Sheraton Hotels tennis courts.
In the first category C doubles, Gino Ruperez and Edwin Agullana went on the offensive early in the game. Agullana in particular was in an aggressive mood as he opened his game with forehand drives that ripped apart Ed David and Daniel Mencias for a final 8-3 score.
The combination of Boy Cornejo and Dominic Dadal avenged their earlier defeat against Leo de Guia and Erwin Tolentino 8-2 to take a commanding 16-5 win-loss games early in the match.
But in the ensuing B+B1 combination, Gil Baylon and Gerry Alcantara were made to work harder by Romy Paraiso and Vooch Maniri as they surrendered with an 4-8 outing, cutting the deficit to just a 7 games advantage for Sportstura. Then the B1+B2 tandem, Sportstura’s Ed Narvaez and Jess Ruivivar was fully in control of the game as they stunned Alex Duma and Sev Sumaya to win the fourth set 8-4 for a 28-17 final total.
This two-month tournament is principally sponsored by Al Hussaini & Co. It is being organized and managed by the All Filipino Tennis Players Association (AFTPA) under the auspices of the Philippine Consulate General.
Meanwhile, SG-Hartz thwarted Hempel Paints-Jaforms 21-16 to win the category BB+ plum. SG’s Danny Aguinaldo and Gil Baylon surrendered to Lito Dumas and Bong Andales 5-8. SG’s Bobby Esquivel with Marcial Barro put up a gallant fight to junk Popoy Macaampao and Benjie Usman 8-5 to level the match at one set apiece and a 13-13 game score tally.
However, in the third and deciding set, Ferdie Gaviola and Ronnie Belga were never in trouble as they nailed Leo Malinao and Reggie Sanosa 8-3 for a 21-16 final tally for SG.
Dubbed as a team to watch, NCB fulfilled expectations by beating KAIA 27-11 to claim the coveted category B2 crown. In the first set, Henry Sarmiento and Rod Madla won over Roel Consumo and Nilo Salvedia 8-5. The stunned KAIA team tried to regroup but their top guns Aye Lodor and Ben Briola also suffered the same outcome as they surrendered to Ramil Adrayan and Peddy Enriquez 5-8. Two sets down and 10-16 on the scorecard, KAIA pinned their hopes on Jess Ruivivar and Willy Dimaano. But it was Rey Lacsina and Mikko Caluag who dominated the game with an 8-1 score and a 24-11 tally for NCB.
Going into the fourth set, NCB needed three games to be officially declared the champion and it came easy for NCB pair of Sev Sumaya and Dario Padere as they won the first three games.
