JEDDAH: RSTP had to go through a see-saw battle against Zaitown before finally winning on points to take the category B1 championship. Issham International enjoyed a championship double when its Uricane men’s category LMX team beat ASTEC-Deltaz 2-1 and its Uricane Ladies HMX team blanked SCTC-Reem 2-0 in the finals.

Elsewhere in the 7th ALBAIK Team Tennis tournament 2015, DP World continued its winning streak and demolished JRTC-Jimmy 3-0 to run away with the men’s category MMX title. For the men’s category C, SBG-RPDTC-1 proved stronger than SOFTC-1 in a 2-1 result that gave it the championship trophy.

Red Sea Tennis Players (RSTP) started slow and lost the 1st set as Bok Gregorio and Mark Lidres lost 4-8 to Saeed Al Ghamdi and Mohammad Maalof of Zaitown. But RSTP had Ricky Delgado dominating the 2nd set singles for an 8-1 win over Mohannad Al Ghamdi to put the match at 1-1.

In the 3rd set RSTP was again derailed as Tonton Pana and Cesar Panti lost 4-8 to Belal Al Heraibi and Majid Alkholi with the odds in favor of Zaitown. RSTP made a last ditch effort in the 4th set behind Erick Diaz and Yor Resunto who defeated Ibrahim Sale Akeel and Faizan Hanif 8-4. The final score was 2-2 (24-21 points) to the declared champions Red Sea Tennis Players for the B1 category.

Issham International-Uricane had a field day as it took two championships, starting with the men’s category LMX in which it pounded ASTEC-Deltaz into submission. Scoring a 1st set 8-7 tie-break win were Mostafa Laguindad and Anuar Laguindab against Cats Catalan and Jeremy Condrado. In the 2nd set, tables were reversed against them as ASTEC’s Marlon Pagsanjan and Jhun Delos Reyes scored a similar tie-break 8-7 win over Ricky Salazar and Bernie Java to tie the scores. In the 3rd set, Uricane’s Roel Manarang and Brian Mercado had a convincing 8-3 win against Romy Sorra and Alito Macadat giving them a comfortable 5-point lead. In the 4th set, Ronnie Organo and Mel Uy just need 4 points to wrap the match and give Uricane the crown. In the ladies HMX category, Uricane gave SCTC-Reem little elbow room. a A 1st set 8-3 win by Kate Taduro and Amor Idjao against Nympha Sakay and Sheila Harris was followed by another 8-3 win in the 2nd set by Beng Tumale and Dena Aquino over Malou Sabio and Hezyl Lozada to win the match for Uricane.

DP World was awesome in winning the MMX championship at 3-0 against JRTC-Jimmy. DP World’s Melvin Rama and Roy Felix controlled the 1st set winning 8-6 against Sam Tomalondog and Sammy Macapaar. It was a tie-break 8-7 win for Dennis Mirrales and Lito Mosquera over Noor Halil and Jimmy Sultan in the 2nd set, with an 8-6 win by Rad Montero and Max Dela Rita against Noroden Pangcoga and Anuar Laguindab in the 3rd set sealing the deal. It was a sweet victory for DP World after closing out the 3rd set with all the nerves and tension in each set, much to the delight of their manager and DP World CEO Mohammad Al Shaikh.

Saudi Binladin Group’s RPDTC-1 was a runaway winner against Oger and Friends Tennis Club in the category C finals. Starting out strong with an 8-3 win in the 1st set by Jhun Delos Reyes and Leo Lagumay against Rudy Alelis Jr. and Mark Desal to draw first blood, they were momentarily derailed as Joseph Eustaquio lost the 2nd set singles on tie-break 7-8 to Mokhtar Al Arabi. In the 3rd set Ernie Ong and Lito Ortiz made sure that they will get the point as they won over Fidel Nares and Salem Dalupang at 8-6. Needing only 3 points in the 4th set, Jeremy Condrado and Noel Sunga did just that racing to 3-0 against Leo Ricanolla and Nestor Pandac Jr. to seal victory.

Organized by the Association of Tennis Clubs in Jeddah (ASTEC) under the helm of its current chairman Bernie Soguilon and Tournament Director Tonton Pana, this 28th ASTEC team tennis tournament being played at the Trio Ranch Country Club tennis courts is 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.