Sports Track, Zuhair Fayez, SBG-RPD Triumph in Albaik tennis

Sports Track-J&B continued its dominance in Group 1 of category B2, streaking to their third victory in as many games with 4-0 shutout win over NCB-Manny, Zuhair Fayez Partnership had both their categories C and MMX teams posting second wins while Saudi Binladen Group SBG-RPD 2 narrowly won over a rallying team Hidada-1 2-2 (26-25) in the 5th ALBAIK Tennis Challenge 2013 at the Al-Bilad and Sheraton hotel courts in Jeddah Corniche.
Rey Tablang and Winston Abella started out strong for Sports Track J&B winning the first set at 8-2 score over NCB-Manny’s Waleed Batestil and Adan Republic to post a 1-0 lead. In the second set, NCB was determined to tie the score as Marlon Regala and Rey Polintan took the initial game at 1-0. But their hopes evaporated as Sports Track’s Marlon Pagsanjan pounded the opposition with crisp forehand and backhand shots while partner Jun Atienza covered the net like a wall grabbing every opportunity to snatch the ball, dishing out sharp angled volleys, drop shots and top spin lobs much to the horror of the NCB duo. When the scuffle ended Pagsanjan and Atienza closed the set at 8-2 to give Sports Track a commanding 2-0 (16-4) lead.
Not to be outdone, the ever-reliable Noel De Guzman with the courageous Ramil Abdua made sure victory was theirs as they took the third set and the match with a 8-4 win against Mark Choy Escober and Lito Menez for a 3-0 lead. Playing for points in the fourth set Ronald Mercado and Gerardo Catalan scored an 8-3 win over Manny Dela Cruz and Sam Silvestre to complete the 4-0 (32-11) sweep for Sports Track, much to the delight of their sponsor Rizwan Siddiqui.
Zuhair Fayez Partnership Tennis Club was also in a high owing to the superb wins by its C and MMX category teams. ZFP C team broke the back of JRTC-Axie with a 4-0 victory as Ryan Tiu and Eric Cuyco took the first set 8-2 against Mamay Saidar and Karin Garo followed by Jun Noveno and Ali Abdu’s 8-4 win over Alvin Lomodaya and Alikman Dalidi in the second set. Johnny Diores with Ahmed Abdu saw little opposition from Acsi Lomomton and Ali Lagrado finishing the third set at 8-2 to post a 3-0 lead. Tamir Mahmoud Saeed and Iftikhar Javeed Khan then completed the shutout with a similar 8-2 win over Camad Dimatingal and Mingkol Dialan in the fourth set.
In the MMX category, team Al-Shuman was the unlikely victim. Obet Tamale and Rey Tablang took the first set with an 8-3 win over Raffy Agustin and Bong Mayoral, then Jericho Miranda with Rodante Nebrida smothered Joey Manalo and Carlo Garbo 8-0 in the second set for a commanding 2-0 lead. Leo Perez and Midu Abdu took control in the 8-4 third set victory over Joe Bao and Rod Baldo then Nilo Salvedia combined with Gerardo Catalan for an 8-3 victory over Cesar Panti and Sam Silvestre in the fourth canto to finish the match 4-0 for Zuhair Fayez.
Over at Sheraton Hotel tennis court, Saudi Binladen Group’s SBG-RPD 2 category C team had a close win against a resurgent Hidada-1 thanks to the big heart displayed by its fourth set tandem of Loloy and Boyet Herrera who lost 3-8 but managed to score the needed 3 points to secure the match against Joseph Deapera and Elmer Sagales.
First set was won by SBG’s Reygil Millabangco and Alito Macadat 8-5 against Melchor Uy and Mario Pascual to lead at 1-0. In the second set, it was a reversal as Hidada’s Rico Arenas and Dave Bengco squeaked past Damian Mercado and Leo Lagumay in an 8-7 tiebreaker. In the third set, SBG with Jeremy and Gerry Collado won 8-5 against Ryan Boquiren and Ponce Hernandez to tally a precarious score of 2-1 (23-17) with one set remaining.