Eastern Province seeded players hammered their way to straight-set wins against Riyadh's top performers in friendly exhibition games that ushered the opening of the doubles championship tournament marking the 20th anniversary of the founding of the Bankers Tennis Association (BTA). Two singles and one doubles were played at the exhibition matches. Alger Plaka, the recreation trainer at the National Guard Hospital in Hofuf, muscled down Ariel Mariano of Riyadh 8-4 in the first singles play-off. In the second match, Butch Dela Cruz, a new BTA recruit, beat Romy Rapon, who was one the leading tennis players in the Philippines in the 1970s, 8-4. National Guard Hospital's players Roderick Lazaro of Dammam and Sonny Santos of Hofuf beat the duo of Marvin Espina and Arnould Luod 8-4 in the double game. The Riyadh players are all recreation trainers at various hospitals in Riyadh. In addition to trophies, the winners and participants in the exhibition games received electronic items as prizes. During the opening ceremonies, BTA president Manny Ramos recalled the milestones achieved by BTA during the last 20 years, and thanked local tennis clubs and community leaders who supported BTA. Founding members and stalwarts, like Rene Icasiano, Alex Navarro and Jun Robles, who all served as BTA presidents sometime during the span of 20 years, were present during the launching of the 20th anniversary tournament. Philippine Embassy welfare officer Rolando Coquia, who graced the opening of the tournament along with Philippine Overseas Labor Office (POLO) staff Julian Vasquez Jr., praised BTA for initiating a recreational outlet through tennis that benefited the Filipino community in Eastern Province. The month-long BTA tournament officially kicked off at the Al Gosaibi Recreational Center in Al-Khobar. Among the clubs taking part in the doubles are the Filipino Expatriates Tennis Association (FETA), Eastern Lawn Tennis Association (ELTA), Al-Muniarah Tennis Association (MTA), KFU Tennis Club, KFMMC Tennis Club, Ranao Overseas Tennis Association (ROTA), Saudi Electric Tennis Club, BCI Tennis Club, Saudi Catering Tennis Club, Jubail United Tennis Club (JUTC), National Guard Hospitals Tennis Club, Al-Rushaid Village Tennis Club, Al-Aujan Tennis Club, Jubail United Bahar Tennis Club (JUBTA), King Fahd International Airport Tennis Club (KFIA), and BTA. __
