Saudi Binladen Group Tennis Club’s SBG-RPD-2 had to endure a super tie-break after it brought Toyota Express to a tied 2-2 (23-23) score to emerge victorious in their category C round of 16 match and move to the quarterfinals round as the 5th ALBAIK Tennis Tournament 2013 entered the knockout phase.

ALJ Toyota Prado capitalized on a superb performance of Arnold Yabut and Mohd Rizwan Nizous in the fourth set to win 2-2 (28-22) against Hidada-2 in their category C match.

In the LMX category, JRTC-Rashid won against DP World at a score of 3-1.

SBG-RPD-2 controlled the first set as Alito Macadat and Reygil Millabangco scored an 8-5 win against Ronald and Nol of team Toyota Express. In the second set, Toyota Express tied the score at 1-1 when Marwan and Eddie won by 8-4 over Damian Mercado and Leo Lagumay. Toyota Express again won during the third set courtesy of Asim and Ading who won 8-3 against Jeremi and Jeremy Collado to lead 2-1. But SBG’s Loloy Banal and Thony Inding would not give up easily as they scored an 8-2 win over Leo and Berry in the fourth set to end the match even on sets and points 2-2 (23-23) necessitating a super tie-break which SBG-RPD-2 won 12-9 to book its place in the quarterfinals.

Also in the round of 16 match of category C, ALJ Toyota Prado saw its chances dim as Hidada-2 took the first set with Ramon Manalac and Allan Asis winning 8-6 over Zaldy Gabriel and Jun Paredes followed by Harlie Pamintuan and Harlie Conchas’ 8-6 triumph against Ray Allen Rivera and Lito Izaga to post a commanding 2-0 lead. ALJ Toyota Prado then took control of the third set as team captain Arnold Perez with Rezil Rahim scored an 8-6 win against Dexter Lacson and Erwin Asi to make the score at 2-1. It was the heroic 8-0 shutout by Arnold Yabut and partner Mohd Rizwan Nizous over Ramon Taneo and Al Unda that tied the match at 2-2 and gave Toyota Prado enough buffer points to clinch the match that ended 28-22 points to Toyota.

In the LMX category, JRTC-Rashid took three sets in succession by identical 8-4 scores, first with Noroden and Webb Pango winning against Orlee Reyes and Lito Mosquera followed by Rash and Jimmy Usman beating Bennie Oandasan-Macoy Hernandez and Raj and Raldy Sultan stopping Jun Inotantes and Joseph Gablines to secure the match. JRTC-Rashig failed to complete a 4-0 sweep after Rashed and Tuffs Laguindab lost the tie-break to Darrell Eltagonde and Abdulkarin Angio for the lone set of DP World.

Organized by the Association of Tennis Clubs in Jeddah (Astec) under the helm of its chairman Francis Idjao Jr. and Tournament Director Tonton Pana, this 26th Astec team tennis tournament is presented in partnership with ALBAIK Food Systems Co. Ltd. represented by Bassam Al-Seyofi (PR-manager), Mahmoud Al-Jaber (marketing coordinator) and Ed Cabiedes (branch manager), and is supported by Deltaz Marketing (Racquet Shop) courtesy of Tony Kassis, Maher Tebakhi and Amin Malik. Also providing support is Sky Freight Forwarders, TFC The Filipino Channel and Pepsi Bugshan.