TAC tames Tigers in ALBAIK tennis tilt

When everything looked dim for TAC, a sudden ray of hope gave it the winning advantage as opponent Tigers defaulted the fourth set enabling TAC to tie at 2-2 and win via points 23-21 in their category LMX match. J&B pounded Astec into submission during their category B2 match last weekend.
Also showing its strength was RSTP’s LMX which blanked SPTC 4-0. Nearly as impressive was RSTP category C team which registered a 3-1 victory against Dark Horse as teams jockeyed for spots in the quarterfinals in the 4th Albaik Team Tennis Challenge 2012 at the Hotel Al Bilad courts in Jeddah Corniche.
In a slow start, TAC lost in the 1st set as Ed-Josie Jacinto could only make it 1-8 against an inspired Adnan-Mazen of Tigers. But Harry-Mitchell quickly countered with an 8-5 win over Carlo-Jess in the second set to tie the score at 1-1.
At the third set, Allan-Lito Zamudio could not overhaul the Tigers lead and eventually lost 6-8 to Noel-Ahmad Arif that almost beat the lights out on TAC. With the Tigers leading 2-1 plus a six points lead it was almost impossible for TAC to win. But as luck would have it, time ran out on Tigers fourth set pair and declared default to award an 8-0 win to TAC. This reversal of fortune gave victory to TAC with 2-2 and 23-21 points.
In what seemed a prelude to the final score, J&B showed its might in the first set. Cats Catalan and Noel De Guzman denied every effort made by Astec’s Oca Lovitos-Rey Villaraza as they scored an 8-0 game to win the first point. In the much awaited second set featuring past Astec chairmen, J&B with Jun Atienza and Bernie Soguillon posted an 8-5 win against Rading Bautista-Jun Tomas with Atienza controlling the net plus his patented lobs and Soguillon showing good form with his vaunted top spin forehands to post a commanding 2-0 match score. Making matters worse for Astec, its third set pair of Tata Amor-Richard Harris was declared default as Harris failed to show up giving the win 8-0 and point to Tony Cleofas-Jun Ordonez. Fourth set hostilities were still controlled by J&B as Albert Arriesgado teamed with upcoming stalwart Marlon Pagsanjan in an 8-5 victory over Cesar Pabico-Allan Maya Basa to complete the 4-0 sweep.
Red Sea Tennis Players (RSTP), meanwhile, was also as ruthless in the win against SPTC in their category LMX match. Starting with Hussam I-Basha-Ramzi Ali with a first set 8-2 win over Mario Betorio-Choy Argarin there was no looking back for RSTP.
Khaleed-Majeed Bukhari capped the second set with an 8-6 decision against a fighting tandem of Lino Bautista-Ben Micu then a solid 8-2 performance by Solomon-Ron Valdez over a stunned Oca Lovitos-Lito Bentulan posted a 3-0 margin for RSTP after the third set. Completing the 4-0 sweep were Alex-Vic Alvaran who coasted to an 8-4 victory against Cesar Pabico-Ali Callanta.
Another RSTP team, this time in category C, also made its mark against Dark Horse winning by 3-1.
Ahmad Lagman-Majeed Bukhari started the onslaught with a first set 8-5 win against Rico-Adan. Joel Quimpo-Alex Tam survived the tiebreak in the second set to win against a persistent Herbert-Edward Forsuello and put RSTP in the lead 2-0.
Dark Horse drew first blood in the third set as Armand-Mansour endured the tiebreak against Jess-Jonas Quinio to set the score at 2-1. But Mark Lidres-Rhino Endrigo would not be denied as they outclassed Kelly-Richard 8-1 in the fourth set to give victory to RSTP.
Organized by the Association of Tennis Clubs, Jeddah (Astec), this team tennis tournament is in partnership with Albaik Food Systems Co. as the major sponsor under the aegis of its PR Manager Bassam Al Seyofi with Marketing Coordinator Mahmoud Al Jaber. Supporting the event is Deltaz Marketing (Racquet Shop) through Maher Tebakhi and Amin Malik and Al Raddadi Clinic Ahmad Abdulrahman, Dr. Jethro Fajardo and Tony Bustamante.