JEDDAH, 26 March 2004 — All but one top-seeded team were beaten as the 5th Malaysia Airlines Tennis Cup reached the sudden-death play-off stage of the tournament — now trimmed to 16 teams.
At the Sheraton Hotel tennis courts last Saturday, FTC was stretched to a deciding 5th set before they prevailed over resurgent Group A Saudia team. FTC received a 4-8 wake-up loss in the 1st set after Rey Tablang and Aurel Soriano lost to Saudia’s Ian Mannings-JR Tumbaga.
FTC’s Toto & Erwin Pangan leveled the sets as they routed Ricky Pasturan-Joel Irasusta 8-1. Saudia’s Leo Lutero-Roy Samonte launched a fight back against Ruben Alzate-Godo Sales, winning 8-4. FTC’s Cocoy joined Ali in the 4th set to launch a recovery against Eppie Dumalaon-Roy Buot, winning 8-5 and split the sets at 2-2. Then came the deciding set which saw the tandem of Jun Manuel-Acmad Sani hammer out an 8-1 verdict to take FTC into the semifinals.
At Albilad Hotel tennis courts, SPTC-Lockheed, a newly B2-upgraded team, upset Group 2 top seed NCB-Evian 3-0 to land into the semis. Playing under the banner of Jameel Cargo Services, freshmen SPT-Lockheed turned the tables on NCB-Evian of Louie Bautista. Alex Buencamino and Romy Sura dumped NCB’s Leo De Guia-Dario Padere in the first set, 8-3. Against Henry Sarmiento-Arnold-Rigor in the 2nd set, SPTC’s Kerwin Vicencio and Salah Labib fought back from 1-3 down to 7-5 before winning 8-6. Then SPTC’s Bayani Colorado and Rey Diano beat hard-hitting Louie Bautista-Rey Lacsina 8-3.
Hidada upheld its pre-tournament status in Group 4 by toppling Adnan team to make the semifinals 3-0. Hidada’s Rey Diega and Joel Jalme kick-started a 3-1 lead versus Boy Isuga-Adnan Bakr, then closed out at 8-5. In the 2nd set, Teody Manguera and Andre Villan breezed past Gerry Dektar-Omar Magno 8-5 and Macoy Flores and Andres Alfante clinched the match for Hidada, taking on Adnan’s Ben Briola-Ariel Lodor and winning 8-6. Siyangco-JPTC defeated SPTC-Langkawi 3-0. Siyangco’s George Bornales-Ferdie Rima downed Oscar Lovitos-Froilan Malapat, 8-3. SPTC’s Bong Tipon-Romy Soriano had the 2nd set under control over Ed Ultra-Ver Artificio at 4-1 and 6-4, but lost their bearing in the 11th game onward and were nailed down at 6-8 for the Siyangco double. Marlon Espina-Gino Ruperes finished off the match at ease, 8-2, over SPTC’s Efren Rodrigo-Bernie Soguilon.
Malaysia Airlines is the principal sponsor of this tournament with Racquet Shop (a division of Delta Marketing) as secondary sponsor. Other co-sponsors are: Farnas Cargo Services thru Gilmore Garcia, La Parilla Restaurant, Cali Drinks/Blackstallion Trading Co., El Gusto Sarisari Store, Albilad Hotel, and TFC (True Filipino Channel).
