JEDDAH: ASTEC’s Pepsi team defeated Hassan Hafiz 3-1 in the men’s HMX category to emerge champion while SCTC-Reem vanquished Uricane 2-1 to clinch the SMXB1 category crown.

In the B2 category, Issham International-Uricane won on points 2-2 (27-24) against SCTC to cop top honors. Over at the ladies category LMX, RSTP blanked SCTC 2-0 in the final as the 7th ALBAIK Tennis Tournament ended at the sprawling courts of Trio Ranch and Country Club on the outskirts of Jeddah.

ASTEC-Pepsi played heads-up tennis to surge ahead 2-0. First set was won by Eric Diaz and Ricky Delgado over Shokri Busar and Sam Tomalondog on 8-6 followed by Francis Idjao and Jun Miguel’s tiebreak 8-7 win against Mohammad Farsi and Hassan Hafiz in the 2nd set. In the 3rd set, Hassan Hafiz broke the ice as Basem Jawi and Arif Iftikhar scored an 8-6 win against Roland Santos and Gio Morte to put the match at an almost even statistical point game score of 2-1 (22-21). In the decisive 4th set, Pepsi’s George Bornales and Melvin Rama delivered and pounded the opposition to run away with an 8-2 set score and match score of 3-1 for the championship win.

In t category SMXB1, Saudia City Tennis Club’s Reem needed full three sets to emerge victorious against Uricane. First set was taken by Malou Sabio and Von Daligdig at 8-0 against Alice Toling and Mel Uy to give Reem 1-0 lead. In the 2nd set Uricane evened-up the scores at 1-1 as Joy Siongco and Roel Manarang defeated Dang Bangit and Ernie Hayahay at 8-4. In the deciding 3rd set, Reem with Nympha Sakay and Exan Dimaronsing scored another 8-0 win over Julie Ramos and Waleed Batestil to win the set and bag the crown.

Over at the Men’s B2 category, Issham International-Uricane and Saudia City Tennis Club engaged each other in a close battle. SCTC took the initiative by scoring two consecutive points winning the 1st set with Rowell Cuasay and Joel Sacal scoring an 8-7 tie-break win against Mostafa Laguindab and Anuar Laguindab followed by the 8-4 win of Von Daligdig over Nilo Borata in the 2nd set singles for a 2-0 lead. In the 3rd set, Uricane with Waleed Batestil and Egay Go drew first blood as they won against Ramil Abdua and Amin Paraji at 8-4. Team captain Ronnie Organo with Boy Castillo then went all out for the kill and won over Ernie Capito and Micahel Landrito 8-4 to draw the match level at 2-2 and win via points 27-24 for the championship victory.

In Ladies category LMX, Red Sea Tennis Players never SCTC-Reem a chance as they shut the lights out of the enemy in two sets to take the championship honors. Marie Ritual and Fe Abat stormed to an 8-6 win against Ghie Asmiralde and Levi Apacionado in the 1st set followed by and 8-7 tie-break win in the 2nd set by Bing Cabuquin and Beng Mayoral over Hezyl Lozada and Maureen Mendoza to cap the night and bring home the bacon.

Organized by Association of Tennis Clubs in Jeddah (ASTEC) under the helm of current chairman Bernie Soguilon and Tournament Director Tonton Pana, this 28th ASTEC team tennis tournament was presented in partnership with ALBAIK Food Systems Co. Ltd. represented by Bassam Al-Seyofi (PR-manager), Ed Cabiedes (branch manager) and Ms. Mazza Farajallah (Corporate Social Responsibility Coordinator) and is supported by Deltaz Marketing (Racquet Shop), Sky Freight Forwarders and Pepsi Cola.