JEDDAH, 17 October 2003 — WRJ Cordex reigned supreme in Category B1 against Hempel Jaforms at the conclusion of the Cabalen Team Tennis held at Sheraton Hotel tennis courts.
Early in the semifinals, WRJ Cordex dealt defeat to the hapless Dehlawi, coming thru easily in straight sets, while Hempel Jaforms swept aside the undermanned Express Point Hempel.
In the finals, Ricky Zabate and Rhodel Rina displayed ruthless tennis, mixed with cleverly crafted points and deft touches around the net as the pair of Reggie Sonosa and Ricky Torres were comprehensively beaten and could do nothing to stop the onslaught.
Ricky Zabate fired three aces while Rhodel Rina converted bouts of quickfire volleys as the error strewn Jaforms could not find their rhythm and collapsed to a shot out defeat. In the second set, Jaforms with Raymond Sy and Adi Banuelos, looked determined to win the set and broke the first game to move 1-0.
After trading points twice and WRJ leading 6-3, Jaforms desperate for a win slowly came back with three hot streak games, a break and two held serve, to level score 6-6. JR Cablao kept his own confidence held serve and fired an ace, to threaten at 7-6.
However, Jaforms would not give up, scrambled and held serve to force a tiebreak. In the tiebreaker, WRJ started to consolidate points with an early break to lead 4-1, as Jaforms felt the pressure. Jaforms held serve to move closer at 2-4, but a potential disaster struck the team as WRJ unloaded winners and ripped the game wide open to win 7-2.
With the conclusion of the tournament, the best doubles winners were Bert Penpena and Edwin Agullana (Category C-Jeto), Arief Subowo and Muhamad Moinoto (Category B2-Garuda), Rhodel Rina and Mar Javarro (Category B1-WRJ Cordex) Special awards were given to United Naghi Express Point (Best in Uniform-Cat. B2), Toyota-SRL (Best in Uniform Cat. C), Kapit Bisig (Sportsmanship) and Tennis Starlets (The Spirit of Cabalen).
The Association of Cabalen Expatriates in Jeddah (ACE) would like to thank the players and the sponsors namely Arab News, TFC, Bens Foodstuff, Baytotee Foods & Catering, United Cooperative, CMS Carlson, AFTA, SG-Al Mansour, Butcher, ASTEC, PNB, Gina Woods, WRJ Freight Forwarders, United Yousef Naghi, La Parilla Restaurant, Al Hussaini Sports Trading, Muhammed Abid Abdul Jawad, Leqoq Sportiff, Hempel Paints, Bison the energy drink, and the friends of Cabalen.
