DAMMAM: Benny Predilla of Metal Recycling Mill (MRM) delivered a solid performance in beating Romeo dela Cruz of National Steel Company (NASCO) 6-1, 6-1 in the opening of Al Ittefaq Steel Product Company (ISPC) Tennis Season 2 at Saudi Arabian Youth Hostel (SAYHA) tennis court here last Saturday.

ISPC Tennis Season 2 used an interesting game format and classified its players from the results of the Tennis Beginner’s Challenge held last November 2014. Three categories (Poll A, B, C) were subdivided and will play round robin elimination, the top 2 of each group will vie for a crossover knock-out and the winner to play in the finals.

Predilla was on course for a title in Pool A, was never broken in an easy 36 minutes performance, showing no signs of slowing down despite his 50s age. But if there were any doubts as to who would be the favorite to win the Pool A championship these were surely dispelled by the game of Marcy Macias winning against the vastly improved Oscar Nartia 6-3, 7-6 (7-3).

Jeffrey De Vera, last year’s doubles finalist, romped to a 6-4, 6-2 win against basketball-turned-tennis player Albert Salado in Pool B, while Jojo Hontanosas stamped his dominance against Isidro Ramientos 6-2, 6-0 in Pool C.

Players entered in the tournament: Pool A – Benny Predilla, Romeo dela Cruz, Edgar Pangilinan, Dante Arlan Bulan, Rey Liclican, Marcy Macias, Oscar Nartia, Arturo Aquino, Ernei Toguay and Allan Branzuela. Pool B – Jeffrey Devera, Albert Salado, Rudy Ortiz, Fernando Guiyab, Homer Ocana, Dado Fernandez, Roy Ortiz and Joel Avero. Pool C – Kid Manalo, Ramon Simangan, Jesus Canapi, PJ Medina, Frederick Narne, Jojo Hontanosas, Isidro Ramientos, Paul Gregorio, Cesar Go, Rolando Milan.

The ISPC Tennis Season 2 tournament was organized by the Filipino employees of Al Ittefaq Steel Product Company, the flagship of Al Tuwairqi Group, headed by Rey Liclican, Allan Branzuela, Fernando Guiyab, Rudy Ortiz, Oscar Nartia, Marcy Macias, Benny Predilla, Homer Ocana and Dante Bulan as adviser.