Renewing its commitment to the sports community in the Western Region, ALBAIK Food Systems Company has once again partnered with Astec (Association of Tennis Clubs in Jeddah) in staging the annual year-ending tennis tournament — the 6th ALBAIK Tennis Challenge 2014.

Astec tournament is back to where it all began in 1999 at the sprawling facilities of the Trio-Ranch Country Club. The event was launched last Friday with the traditional parade of participating teams resplendent in their colorful uniforms.

The occasion was graced by the presence of representatives from the Philippine Consulate, Vice Consul Jim Joseph Minglana, Anthony Guy Rhodes and Antonio Paruzzi, manager and facility Manager respectively of Trio-Ranch, and Bassam Al-Seyofi, PR Manager of ALBAIK Food Systems, who thanked all attendees and participants as well as Astec for the continued partnership in providing quality events to the tennis community in Jeddah.

Highlighting the event after the parade of teams was the choice of special awardees for the Best in Uniform teams. Winners are – Elaf Group (Category “Middle Mix”), Arabian Wood Works/SOFTC (Categories “C” and “B1”), Uncle Sam (Lower Mix), Uricane (B2), while in Ladies Division, TAIF ABTC won in Lower Mix and Uricane Tennis Club in Higher Mix.

Apart from giveaway special prizes from co-sponsors such as ALBAIK meal coupons, tennis racquet, balls and bags from Deltaz Marketing, and cargo vouchers from Sky Freight Forwarders, Trio-Ranch management also raffled out a free club membership, which was won by Amanola Uzman Dianalan.

After the rites an exhibition singles match between Jeddah’s professional Class “A” players followed, pitting Filipino Rico Gonzales against Italian Simon Verpoort, which was won by the latter 10-6.

The tournament, which is expected to run until December 12, has attracted 52 teams (45 men's teams and 7 for the Ladies Division), despite the distant location of the current venue at Trio-Ranch, which has 5 tennis court facilities.

Organized by Astec under the leadership of its current chairman, Francis Idjao Jr., Tournament Director Tonton Pana, and Bernie Soguilon and Randy Martin as advisers, this 27th Astec tournament is presented in partnership with ALBAIK Food Systems Inc., and is supported by Deltaz Marketing, Al Marai Drinks, and Sky freight Forwarders.