Considered the club to beat in the lower categories, Jeddah Ranao Tennis Club (JRTC) and the newly-formed group of Jeddah-Based Tennis Players (JBTP) sustained the winning run by demolishing ASTEC (8-6, 8-4, 8-2, 5-8, 8-0) and Toyota2 (8-5, 8-1, 8-7,8-7, 8-3) to keep leadership in Group 2 and 3 respectively of the lower mix event; while Al-Mabani sent NCB-JIS crashing to the cellar in B1 category (8-4, 8-3, 8-7, 8-2, 8-2) to keep its win-loss slate clean at 2-0 during the elimination round of the 1st Prince Tennis Challenge, being played at the tennis courts of Albilad Hotel, Sheraton Hotel, and Jeddah International School, here. With the score standing at 2-2 in the first set, the pair of Deleon Dipatuan and Kim Guro raced to a 3-0 run; capitalized a 5-2 edge and quelled the tough challenge of Efren Bulatao and Roger Gonzales of ASTEC in the last two games to secure the set at 8-6. As Mar Malonzo and Fritz bowed to Sajed Khan and Malik Mayo at 8-4 in the second set, JRTC sealed the match as Sonny Ismail and Alex Yusoph breezed past the ASTEC pair of Edwin and Johny Rodriguez with a convincing score of 8-2. Displaying tenacity, Ruben Macalindong and John Gillespie of JBTP broke away from the sixth game to set the kill at 7-3. As the Toyota pair of Dante and Rene Ramirez reduced the gap at 7-5, the JBTP tightened the grip in the last two games to secure the set at 8-5. With the JBTP pair of Dondon Alcantara and Arguelles outclassing Jojo and Anthony of Toyota at 8-1 in the second set, the JBTP tandem of Walid Amin and Jack Walsh trailed behind at 6-7, but recovered to overrun Angel and Gerome Villegas of Toyota in the bitterly contested tie-breaker at 7-3 for the match clincher. Ravaging for more points, the JBTP duo of Jun Corraler and Johnie Estacio followed suit, winning another tie-breaker at 7-5 against Bogs Razalan and Joel of Toyota. Serge Taga and Almond Panganiban placed an 8-3 icing on the cake against Jake and Cris of Toyota to complete a 5-0 shut-out. Sustaining a 4-0 advantage, Lito Dare and Alex Pena shoved team Al-Mabani upfront in the first set as Bong Nigos and Fred Masangkay of NCB recovered their deadly strides much too late for the JBTP pair walking to an 8-4 winner. In the first singles, Jomarie Sarduma showed too much class and overpowered Ronald de la Cruz at 8-3 for a JBTP lead at 2-0, while the hard-hitting George Bornales and steady Jimmy Sabarillo outlasted the NCB pair of Tim San Gabriel and Dennis Miralles in the hard-fought third-set tie-breaker to deliver the final blow at 7-2 for the match clincher. 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. __
