Perennial title contender team Toyota of Abdul Latif Jameel Tennis Club underlined its consistent billings by subduing a tough SG Tennis Club in Category B2 via a 3-2 decision match that went to the wire (8-7, 3-8, 8-3, 3-8, 8-6) and Pinoy Xpats Tennis Club pulled the rug from under NCB in a bitterly-contested 5-game decider (8-0, 0-8, 8-0, 3-8, 8-7) in Category B1 during the elimination round of the 1st Prince Tennis Challenge at the tennis courts of Albilad Hotel, Sheraton Hotel and Jeddah International School. Another Toyota entry outclassed Al-Baik (8-2, 8-2.8-0, 8-2,8-0) in Category C while Hidada Tennis Club sent home packing while another Toyota entry in straight sets (8-6, 8-3, 8-1 3-8, 2-8) in Category B2. Building a 6-2 edge early from a 4-0 run, the Toyota tandem of Resty Cruz and Marlon Ordono momentarily lost momentum, as Rod and Romy Munoz of SG inched closer to 5-6, then completed a break point off a Cruz serve in the 14th game to extend the match at 7-7. Springing back to life, the Toyota duo recovered and extracted a 7-5 triumph in the tie-breaker to place Toyota ahead. SG bounced back as Haran Khan demolished Bogsie Razalan at 8-3 in the first singles to even the match at 1-1, but Gerome Villegas and Noel Pardines shoved Toyota back upfront with a convincing 8-3 score against Erick and Allan Basa to set the kill at 2-1. In the crucial second singles, Arnel Laparan kept SG hopes alive by outclassing Alan Gultiano at 8-3 to level the match, but Toyota proved steadier in the homestretch, as the pair of Royce Lagarde and Richard Ramirez prevailed in the deciding game at 8-6. Pinoy Xpats Tennis Club caught team NCB by surprise with a 3-2 verdict that went to the last drop, as Salam and Jojo came out with all guns blazing in the tiebreaker against NCB's Bobby Ladion and Ronald De La Cruz to deliver the match at 7-3. Pinoy Xpats surged ahead as Hatem and Omar downed Fred Masangkay and Bong Nigos in the first set, but gave up on default in second set that leveled the match at 1-1. With NCB likewise giving up on default in the fourth set, the bankers bit the bullet with Cris Dacer overpowering Lito Reyes in the second singles to extend the match into overtime. A seesaw battle ensued up to the 12th canto, but the Hidada pair of Tirso Manalo and Ramon Manalac proved their mettle in the end game to finish at 8-6 against Toyota's Ahmed and Dante. As the youthful Allan Arriesgado breezed past Ruben Alzate of Toyota in the first singles match at 8-3, Benny Oandasan and Benny Lazarte walked away with a one-sided 8-1 victory against Toyota's Jun and Jericho Balaquidan. Organized and managed by the Association of Tennis Clubs (ASTEC)-Jeddah, this event is supported by Deltaz as the main corporate sponsor. Co-sponsors are Creative Edge, Al-Saman Maintenance and Construction Co., Sky Freight Forwarders and TFC (The FilipinoChannel) ABS-CBN. __
