JEDDAH: The Kapuso team displayed their championship trophies in style after they emerged triumphant in the Cesar Pabico Farewell Cup tennis tournament, organized by the Samahang Pinoy Tennis Club (SPTC) at the King Abdulaziz tennis courts recently.

Mike Amerol and Roman Alcantara of Team Kapuso were awarded individual medals for winning the Best Doubles pair in the competition with an undefeated three victories from the round three in the two-team competition.

The pair of Bernie Soguilon/Gary Bautro, also of Kapuso, came out also undefeated but ran short of points required to overtake their counterparts due to the tournament rules.

Other Kapuso players who received individual medals were Celso Abella, Norwin Catipay, Bernie Soguilon, Gary Bautro, Leo Milarion, Mashur Jamiri, Mike Amerol, Roman Alcantara, Waymour Carmelotes, Romeo Poras, Rolly Bautista, Rolly Saldana, Ali Callanta, Arnold Tambalo, Rick Maulion, Yusuf Adriatico, Vic Rebong, and Nilo Gamba.

Kapamilya, led by Cesar Quilenderino, received individual finalist medals. Other players in the team were: Jun Tomas, Fred Masangkay, Boy Isuga, Marlon Pagsanjan, Romy Sora, Oscar Lovitos, Zaldy Gabriel, Julius Garcia, JM Bravo, Roy Timtiman, Mario Betorio, Ariel Domingo, Nasser Cayquep, Sherwin Nervais, Clark Maldo, Fernan Fermin, and Pierre Abou Toumo.

The organizers spiced up their awarding ceremony with a special doubles match featuring the honoree, Cesar Pabico, SPTC ex-chairman, who agreed and obliged to pair with Gary Bautro (another past chairman of the club) versus two other former SPTC chairmen (Ali Callanta and Pol Fernandez).

Cesar Pabico and Gary Bautro came out from 0-2 deficit early in the games, then found their football to draw level at 4-games all after the 8th game, and again caught up Pol Fernandez and Ali Callanta after the 10th to level up at 5-5.

From there, Pol Fernandez and Ali Callanta put a stop on the surging tandem of Cesar Pabico/Gary winning the next and last three games to close out the match at 8-5.

Another featured game saw Eman Mencool Usman (a budding youngster representing the SPTC “young bloods”) put his skills in good measure against the more experienced Cesar Quilenderino, who carried the cause of the SPTC oldies. Eman Usman withered the resistance of Cesar Quilenderino and outlasted his opponent in an exhausting singles battle in the adjacent court of KAU tennis playground. The match ended at 8-4 for Eman Usman, but got thru with a number of crucial moments of grueling passing shots and exchange of well-placed drop shots. Cesar Quilenderino got the upper-hand in with his volley and net-attacking games, in the 3rd, 6th, and 11th games — but failed to convert for the winning points when he lost a 40-love service game, a 40-30 advantage to break serve, and then lost again another 40-love serve in that order.

In a fitting ceremony, the new SPTC chairman, Ariel Domingo, delivered a thankful speech then handed a plaque of appreciation to Cesar Pabico.