JEDDAH: Elimination rounds leader Hot Rods lost the first set but kept their hopes alive as they battled in the succeeding sets to inch their way into the finals by beating fourth ranked Hot Shots 3-1. Meanwhile, second ranked Hot Balls were likewise determined to grab the other finals' slot as they sank third ranked Hot Holes into oblivion via a 3-1 victory during the semifinals matches of the SPTC Summer Challenge 2011 at the King Abdul Aziz University tennis courts over the weekend. Starting with Ellie Baltar/Choi Argarin, Hot Rods were stymied in the first set when the tournament's best doubles pair of Oca Lovitos/Mario Betorio shut the lights out on them to take the set at 3-8 and register a 1-0 lead for Hot Shots. Undaunted, Hot Rods' Erwan Nurlawis/Taher Ibrahim took control of the second set as they squeaked past Gary Bautro/Julius Garcia winning 8-6 to tie the score at 1-1. The third set saw Ben Micu/Lino Bautista burying Jun Tomas/Ronald Ricardo at 8-2 to take a commanding 2-1 lead in the match. Unexpectedly, a no-show by the Hot Shots in the fourth leg handed the set to Rading Bautista/Vhoi Ortiz together with the match at 3-1 and the slot for the championship round. In the other semifinal, Hot Balls raced to a 2-0 leade as they took the first two sets with pounding 8-2 set wins. Moi Noto/Barum Bahrom took the opening salvo as they showed their mastery over Cizzner Carascal/Pio Coronado to register the first set. In the second set Romy Sorra and captain Marlon Pagsanjan, displayed perfect doubles combination and superiority against Ali Callanta/Budi Santoso to sink the opposition halfway through the match. Hot Holes resurrected in the third set as their Rolly Bautista/Saiful Rahman made a killing of Chet Bautista/Reggie Robles with an 8-0 win to breath life to their team's hopes and salvage the match with the score at 2-1 in favor of Hot Balls. In the crucial fourth set, Hot Holes Lito Bentulan and Cizzner Carascal had the unenviable task of winning the set and limiting their opponents to just four points, but a determined Rik Maulion and Darrell Eltagonde of Hot Balls would not be denied their game and raced to an early 4-1 set lead. It was almost a done deal for the Hot Balls duo as they just coasted along to eventually win via an 8-4 score to give Hot Balls a 3-1 match and a date with the earlier winner Hot Rods for the championship match. The single round-robin team tennis format tournament of the Samahang Pinoy Tennis Club (SPTC) is played every weekend at the King Abdul Aziz University tennis courts and is another project of the 2011 set of officers under the chairmanship of Ali Callanta. Tournament Director is Oca Lovitos with assistance from Marlon Pagsanjan, Ellie Baltar and Ernesto Sandoval. __
