As the conclusion of the elimination rounds in the 1st Prince Tennis Challenge” draws near, Al-Shuman International of JIS Tennis Club subdued upcoming team Jeddah Based Tennis Players via 4-1 (4,8, 8-6, 8-3, 8-5, 8-5) to galvanize foothold on the number one position and Jeddah Concrete Co. Ltd. nipped ASTEC in a closely contested 3-2 (6-8, 8-2,6-8, 8-2,8-5) decider to keep its hopes alive for a semis berth in the high mix event. The brothers' tandem of Jun and Raymund Miguel came out with all guns blazing and raced to a 4-1 lead, but Lito Reyes and Cezar Panti of Al-Shuman countered with a 3-0 run to level the match at 4-4 in the first set. Shifting to high gear in the last 4 games, the JBTP pair romped away for a final 8-4 for the ice-breaker, but Al-Shuman bounced back for the equalizer as Jojo Valencia and Reden Luangco proved steadier with a close 8-6 triumph against the dreaded JBTP pair of Michael Marquez and Martial Barro. Al-Shuman grabbed the upper hand as Aris Feliciano and Nilo Loremia, capitalized a 4-1 edge early in the match, and demolished the Robert Onsangsoy and Salahuddin at 8-3 in the A2/B+ 3rd set match. In the crucial fourth canto, Lito Dumas and Arnold Tavera buckled down under pressure as the Al-Shuman pair of Jake Olaquer and upcoming tennister Mike Melendrez unleashed and coordinated smoothly with lethal ground strokes and overhauled a 2-5 deficit, to complete a spectacular come-from-behind 8-5 match-clincher. With the pair of Lito Dare and George Bornales bowing to the ASTEC pair of Uly Bartolata and Loi Escabusa at 3-8, the JCC combination of Bong Agdamie and Fadi Maalouf unleashed a devastating form that send Teody Bea and Cocoy Clapano crashing at 8-2 to keep abreast at 1-1 set all. Likewise looking for its first win, ASTEC raced ahead at 2-1 as the tandem of Geo Morte and Danny Aguinaldo broke away in the last 3 games against the JCC pair of Roland Santos and JR Cablao to carve out an 8-6 squeaker, but the JCC pair of Moshen Hafiz and Benjie Usman displayed too much class against Shasha and Danny Ignacio with an 8-pressured-barred triumph to extend the match into the deciding set. The JCC pair of Rowell and Maan Janoudi exploded with a nerve-shattering 6-1 edge, but the undaunted combo of Azmi and and Jess Gatbonton unloaded a 4-0 run to reduce the gap to 5-6. As the ASTEC duo lost steam, the JCC pair proved steadier and clinched the match at 8-6. In Lower mix event, KAUH Tennis Club pulled the rug from under Toyota-2 in another pulsating decision match (2-8, 8-2, 8-3, 7-8, 8-2) to stay in contention, while team Mixed Nuts of combined Zuhair Fayez and SETE Tennis Clubs surprised fancied Hidada Tennis Club with a thumping 4-1 (8-3,8-5,8-3, 3-8, 8-6) victory in aB2 category match, as team C130/4 nailed its second win in group 3 of C category by downing another Hidada entry (8-2, 7-8, 8-2, 8-6, 8-0). 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 & Construction Co., Sky Freight Forwarders and TFC (The FilipinoChannel) ABS
