Team Bigaten (from L) Willy Nicolas, Joemari Machitar, Albin Guinto, Ed Gangat, Jho Manali, Ronnie Jigz Gadiano, Nick Lozada, Ferdie Liwanag, Yunos Ong, little muse Jessica Aumentado, Voltaire Urdaneta, Frank Orias and Rey Javier. — Photos by Shutters Guild Albin Guinto Jr.
RIYADH — After dominating the first three rounds at the ongoing Bayanihan Cup Team Tennis Challenge here, Team Top Ten of Ed Sarmiento suffered shocking defeats in the 4th and 5th rounds at the hands of Frank Orias Team Bigaten, 1 set to 5 (26 games to 45) and Jun Aguilar's Xtreme Netters, 1 set to 5 (33 games to 44). As a result, both Bigaten and Xtreme Netters secured the Team of the week honors. The results proved costly for Top Ten as it secured only 2 set points out of 12 that resulted in its relegation to No. 9 in the latest rankings. Xtreme Netters was in high spirits as it posted three straight wins against Top Ten. Omar Taha and Ronald Zabala walloped Maeng Siojo and Nick Agnes, 8-4. In Game 2, Fred Halog and Ronald Zabala blocked Ricky Villa and Roderick Lanzuela 8-6, followed by Ramon Eugenio and Odie Fontamillas winning 8-6 against Nabil Mojica and Nick Real. In Game 4, Top Ten seeded players blocked the onslaught when Ed Sarmiento (B1) and Neal Perez (B2) defeated the tandem of Jun Rafuson and Gerome Corpuz, 8-4. Xtreme Netters continued their domination when Nestor Pepito and Jun Aguilar nailed Butch Magalong and Manny Aumentado, 8-4. A chance for Top Ten to secure its first win was melted when Dante Bautista (B3) and Ramil Ancajas (B4) lost to Jad Adriano and Wilson Petalcorin, 8-5. In other matches, Green Xtreme of Ed Duco stopped Bong Bueta's Ace of Ten, 4-2 (39-30), while Tennis Warriors of Ernan Santiago and Ting Banday posted their first win in 5 matches winning 4-2 (42-32 game points) against D'Lieutenants of Eric Villano. On Court No. 4, Centensiadores of President Tony Fernandeaz posted a draw against Bobot Mabini's Tenistang Pinoy, 3-3 (34-29 game points). Intensity 12 of Jonathan del Pilar underlined its billing as among the favorites with a 4-2 (40-33 game points) rout of D'Consistence leading the rankings after the 5th round. Although Teen Squad netters of Charles Gavino and AlSadat Bakil did not perform well recently, four of its players ranked first in their respective categories. B1 & B2 Players Gerry de Guzman and Mark Navarro posted a 4 wins 1 loss record while in C1 category, veteran Tony Monter sat on top of the standing with Henry Torio in C2 category. Players Individual Rankings (PIR) A ranking system is devised and introduced to monitor the performance of tennis players in Pinoy Netters Club tournaments. It is a system that reflects a player's performance (win points plus quality points) in tournaments as well as his record against other players. This ranking will be the basis to choose the best players at the end of every tournament. The rankings determine players' seeding for all tournaments. The Pinoy Netters' rankings are computed and emailed weekly by the club and can be accessed at the official Facebook site. Best players were chosen after the elimination rounds to give equal chances to all participating players regardless of team standing. Sponsors of Pinoy Netters are Enjaz Banking Services through Ms. Marie Joanne C. Yodico - Country Manager, Philippines; BPI Remittance through Reiner C. Jeongco – VP/Region Head, Bayanihan Cargo Forwarders; Al-Haram for Import & Export Company (Al-Haram Center) through Aris Michael Ramirez; Pinoy Supermarket through Joseph Magdalena; former Pinoy Netters president Sarge Gumapac and officers Neal Perez and Nick Real Jr. Team Standings: 1. Intensity 12 (20-201); 2. Bigaten (18-199); 3. Xtreme Netters (17-197); 4. Green Xtreme (17-193); 5. Centenciadores (16-186); 6. Tenistang Pinoy (16-183); 7. D'Lieutenants (15-188); 8. D'Consitence (14-184); 9. Top Ten (14-183); 10. Tennis Warriors (12-171); 11. Teen Squad (11-174); 12. Ace of Ten (10-159).
