Topspin hurdled past Zoom Zoom Mazda/Pinoy Expat in a close 3-2 verdict (8-5, 4-8, 1-8, 8-4, 8-7) to remain unbeaten after five matches in Group One, Category C, in the First Arabasco Tennis Challenge Jeddah Ranao Tennis Club also displayed its form and eliminated Zuhair Fayez 4-1 (8-2, 8-4, 8-4, 2-8, 0-8) for a quarterfinal spot in the lower mix event, while Siemens barged into the winner's column with a 4-1 (8-4, 8-6, 8-0, 0-8, 8-4) victory over Saudia City Tennis Club, in the high mix event. Undefeated in Group One, team Elaf spearhead the top eight quarterfinalists in B2 category, and is set to take on Zoom Zoom Mazda of Pinoy Expat, which finished fourth in Group 2. Group 2 leader Elaj Medical will be seeking a berth against Hidada (Group 1/No. 4); Group 2\No. 2 SG Tennis Club collides with Group 1\No. 3 team Sarawat/SCTC, and Group One\No. 2 team Toyota/Aljacs is matched against Group 2/No. 3 team JIS Tennis Club in the other bracket. Team Carlo Gavazzi grabs solo leadership by handing team Elaf its first loss via a close match in five sets, and kept its unblemished record at 4 wins/0 loss that guaranteed it outright semis slot in B1 category. With the match standing at 1-2 in favor of team Zoom Zoom Mazda, Topspin regrouped and extended the match into a decider as Andre Ciganik outlasted Junie Balatibat in the crucial 2nd singles (4th set) with an 8-4 score, as Balatibat ran out of steam in 10th game. In the decider, the Topspin's brothers tandem of Sidarth and Shivash Kumar proved steadier by completing a come-from-behind 8-7 (7-4) win. The pair of Omer Fahmi and Salman Sidas pushed Topspin ahead in the first set with an 8-5 winner over Vic Alvaran and Willy Flores, but Zoom Zoom Mazda turned the tide when Walid surprised Maan Fahmi in the singles (8-4), while Orlan Paco and Junjun Soriano breezed-past the pair of Sami and Yunis Abdallah (8-1) to shove team Zoom Zoom Mazda ahead. The pair of Kim Guro and De Leon Dipatuan put JRTC in control of the match with an 8-2 winner over Robert Punio and Ed Umlas, as Sonny Usman and Danny Natangcop followed suit with an 8-4 triumph over Obe Tumale and Dante Nebrida of Zuhair Fayez. Riding on a mind-boggling 7-1 edge, Alex Yusoph and Ahmed delivered an 8-4 match-clincher, against Freddie Dominguez and Rommel Siasat that guaranteed a slot for JRTC in the quarterfinals round of the lower mix event. Winless in the last two matches, Siemens broke the spell as the tandems of Lito Dare/Fred Masangkay, Romy Payong/Teody Bea emerged triumphant against the SCTC pairs of Erp Casilac/Danny Reintoquio (8-4) and Froilan Malapad/Rcky Torres (8-6), respectively. The second set proved crucial as SCTC failed to produce a pair in the third pair against the Siemens duo of Rico Gregorio and Ronnie Sulit, who won the third set match without hitting a ball. Organized and managed by the Association of Tennis Clubs (Astec)-Jeddah, the event is principally sponsored by Arabian Aircraft Services Co. Ltd (Arabasco). Deltaz, Adwaa Al-Tamayuz Contracting Co. Ltd, Sky Freight Forwarders, Malaysia Airlines & TFC (The Filipino Channel) Abs-Cbn are the co-sponsors. __
