JEDDAH — Astec's Pepsi team defeated Hassan Hafiz team 3-1 in the men's HMX Category to emerge champion, while SCTC-Reem vanquished Uricane via a 2-1 score to clinch the SMXB1 Category crown. In the B2 Category, Issham International-Uricane won via points 2(27)-2(24) against SCTC to cop top honors. Over at the ladies Category LMX, RSTP blanked SCTC 2-0 to bring home the honors as the 7th Al Baik Tennis Tournament closed out its season at the sprawling courts of Trio Ranch and Country Club here. Astec-Pepsi played a heads-up game as it quickly surged ahead by registering a 2-0 lead. The first set was won by Eric Diaz and Ricky Delgado over Shokri Busar and Sam Tomalondog at 8-6, followed by Francis Idjao and Jun Miguel's 8-7 tie-break win against Mohammad Farsi and Hassan Hafiz in the second. In the third set, Hassan Hafiz team 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(22)-1(21). In the very crucial make-or-break fourth set, Pepsi's George Bornales and Melvin Rama poured in when it was needed and pounded the opposition to run away with an 8-2 set score and a final decision of 3-1 for the championship. In the SMXB1 Category, Saudia City Tennis Club's Reem team needed the full three sets to emerge victorious at the expense of Uricane team. The 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 second 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 third set, Reem's Nympha Sakay and Exan Dimaronsing scored another 8-0 win over Julie Ramos and Waleed Batestil to bag the crown. In the men's B2 Category, it was a close battle between Issham International-Uricane and Saudia City Tennis Club. SCTC took the initiative by scoring two consecutive points winning the first 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 second set singles for a 2-0 lead. In the third set, Uricane's Waleed Batestil and Egay Go drew first blood as they won against Ramil Abdua and Amin Paraji at 8-4. Buoyed by the win, team captain Ronnie Organo with Boy Castillo went all out for the kill and won over Ernie Capito and Micahel Landrito via an 8-4 score to tie the scores at 2-2 and win via points 27-24 for the championship. In the ladies Category LMX, Red Sea Tennis players did not give SCTC-Reem a chance to breathe as they shut the lights out of them in two sets to take the championship. Marie Ritual and Fe Abat stormed to an 8-6 win against Ghie Asmiralde and Levi Apacionado in the first set, followed by an 8-7 tie-break win in the second by Bing Cabuquin and Beng Mayoral over Hezyl Lozada and Maureen Mendoza to cap the night and bring home the crown. Organized and managed by the Association of Tennis Clubs in Jeddah (Astec) under the helm of chairman Bernie Soguilon and Tournament Director Tonton Pana, this 28th Astec tournament, being played at the Trio Ranch Country Club tennis courts, is presented in partnership with Al Baik Food Systems Co. Ltd., represented by Bassam Al-Seyofi (PR manager), Ed Cabiedes (branch manager) and Mazza Farajallah (corporate social responsibility coordinator) and is supported by Deltaz Marketing (Racquet Shop), Sky Freight Forwarders and Pepsi Cola.
