Elaf Group teams continue their winning streak in different categories, with their latest a cliffhanger forcing a rubber-match tie-breaker against JRTC in the LMX class of the 23rd ASTEC Team Tennis Tournament 2012 at the Al-Bilad Hotel tennis courts here. Shelter enjoyed a good performance losing only a match in four outings in both Class C and Class B2 while Uricane is assured of a seat in the next round by topping Group 2 of Category C with a 4-0 win/loss card and in Class LMX a possible second position in its group. Entered in three categories, Elaf Group's Category LMX team finally broke into the winning column by scoring a come from behind win in the fourth set to level set scores and force a super tie-breaker against a rampaging team JRTC. It was on the heroics by Elaf's Noel De Guzman and Gerardo Catalan, who limited their opponents, Daud/Hamidi of JRTC, to an 8-4 set. Then Noel and Cats continued the winning streak as they beat JRTC's best pair of Tuffs Laguindab/Noroddin (12-8) on the tie to secure victory for Elaf. First set saw Elaf's Jun N/Dennis Cruz winning 8-4 over Radj/Tongi. Second set was JRTC's turn as Tuffs/Tongi squeaked an 8-6 win over Roy Santos/Jun Atienza then Noroddin/Acmad Sani defeated Nelson/Jun Catangcatang, 8-2, to put JRTC in the lead in the match at 2-1 on the third set. Elaf's category B2 team has a split 1-1 win/loss card as it won 3-1 against SPTC after having lost to Shelter 1-3 while its MMX entry already has two wins in two matches as it blasted JBTP, 4-0, and then won 3-1 against team RSTP-2. Team Uricane, on the other hand, is already assured of trips to the quarters after finishing all its matches earlier than other teams. Playing most of the time with one set on a no-show default handicap, its Category C entry currently tops Group 2 with a 4-0 match score, losing only on their default sets. It has disposed of teams SCTC-Pepsi 3-1, Thunderstorm 3-1, HTTP 4-0 and JRTC-2, 3-1. While its LMX contingent, although having losses against NCB and Tatto Tatti with identical 1-3 scores, won over teams Saudia Catering, HTTP and JBTP all on a 3-1 scorecard. It was a pretty good showing on their maiden foray into ASTEC tournament. Also having a field day were the two entries of team Shelter both having a scorecard of three wins against a sole defeat. Its Category C team has beaten teams RSTP 4-0, SPTC 3-1 and ALJ-Tropapips 3-1. Its only loss so far was against JRTC-1 on a 2-2 loss via points (22-24). Its Category B2 team Simpex-Shelter was victorious against teams Elaf and SPTC via a 3-1 match score and a 2-2 win via points (29-28) over JRTC. Its only loss was against RSTP in a lopsided 0-4 match score. This tournament is organized and managed by the Association of Tennis Clubs, Jeddah (ASTEC) with the support of Tony Kassis and Amin Malik of Deltaz Marketing and Prince as the official tennis balls of the event. __
