JEDDAH — After a month of hectic elimination round matches at four tennis courts at the sprawling facilities of Trio-Ranch Country Club, the cast of semifinalists in various categories has been completed with major clubs continuing to dominate the field. Defending champion in categories Lower Mix and B2, Issham International, powered by Uricane Tennis Club, is set to duplicate the feat this year as they took the top spot in the Lower Mix and will face off with Saudia City Tennis Club (SCTC) next week for a place in the final. In B2, resurging Hidada Tennis Club, which is atop the leader-board, will face a tough challenge to march into the final as it plays against SCTC, which earlier beat it 3-1 during the elimination round. Meanwhile, Jeddah Ranao Tennis Club (JRTC) remains a formidable foe as its teams are through to the semifinal rounds in all five categories of the tournament. After a dismal performance last year without capturing a single title, JRTC is set to regain its spot in the finals particularly in Middle Mix category where it topped the Group. Elaf tennis team earlier defeated Astec-Middle Mix team 3(31)/1(20) to seal its place in the semifinal knockout round via a win-over-the-other rule and will square-off with JRTC, its tormentor during the elimination rounds, albeit in a 2-on-2 score. However, SCTC which is in second place in the ranking, remains the team to beat as it has better set-scores won of 10 compared to JRTC's 7 in 4 matches. The Ladies Division is likewise in full swing and will be highly charged as the audience is expected to swell to show support to their respective teams during the weekend finals in the Higher Mix and Lower Mix Categories. Perennial club-rivals SCTC (Saudia City Tennis Club) and JISTC (Jeddah International Tennis Club) will clash for the top honors in both categories. Last year, Red Sea Tennis Players (RSTP) and Uricane Ladies got the better off SCTC in the finals and hence, SCTC is determined this year to avenge those defeats. Organized by Astec, under the helm of its current chairman Bernie Soguilon, tournament director Marlon Delfin, and advisers Francis Idjao and Jun Atienza, this 29th Astec tournament is presented in partnership with AlBaik Food Systems, Inc., and is supported by Deltaz Marketing, Skyfreight Forwarders, Sports Track and Qatar Airways.
