With the B1 and B2 categories already in the bag, Jeddah Tennis Organization (JETO), bagged four of the five major titles at stake in the final series, with team Mediacom and Team Kim & Kris emerging triumphant in hard-fought 3-1 matches against SG Tennis Club in High Mix (8-3, 8-4,4-8, 8-6), and Jeddah Ranao Tennis Club (5-8, 8-4, 8-5, 8-6) in Lower Mix event respectively in the 1st Arabasco Tennis Challenge at the Albilad and Sheraton hotels here. Team Mediacom came out with all guns blazing as brothers Jun and Raymond Miguel complimented each other with devastating form to hammer an 8-3 conquer of the hard-hitting Medz Mabang and George Bornales in the first set. Capitalizing a 6-1 advantage, the Mediacom duo of Martial Barro and Michael Marquez set the kill for Mediacom at 2 set to nothing with an intimidating 8-4 finish against Arnold Tavera and Loi Escabusa, who failed to find their rhythm in the first 4 games. Typical of a title match, SG Tennis Club bounced back from the jaws of a 3-set straight debacle as the unfazed tandem of Larry Zafe and Jay Quipot unleashed contrasting power and finesse that generated an 8-4 winner against Geo Morte and Danny Aguinaldo to keep their flickering title hopes alive. Taking the cue from the inspiring win in the third set, Venus Layoso and Nilo Loremia of SG zoomed to 4-0 lead in the fourth doubles, but failed to sustain their form as Robert Ongsangsoy and Dr. Mamdoh Eissa of Mediacom found their deadly range midway in the crucial match and uncorked a 5-0 run to turn the tide in their favor at 5-4. The SG pair pulled level at 6-6, but the Mediacom duo converted magnificent winners in the crucial end game that spelled the difference in the match, and emerged victorious as Robert fired a brilliant down-the-line passing shot that punctuated the title clincher at 8-6. With its sight set to start the season with another title Jeddah Ranao Tennis Club started strong as Hatz Mamainte and Tuffs Laguindab quelled the tough combination of Robert Gregorio and Jay Sacabon with an 8-5 score and set the pace of the match. A nip and tuck affair dominated the first 4 games ending at 2-2, but Randy Martin and Michael Landrito built a solid edge at 5-2 in the next three games and cruised to an 8-4 winner against Al Manalundong and Deleon Dipatuan to even the match. A similar 5-2 tally ending the 7th game in the second set, generated a commanding 6-3 in favor of team Kim & Kriz but a never-say-die Sonny Ismail and Danny Natangcop of JRTC regrouped to reduce the gap at 5-6. But a confident Raymond Miguel and Gilbert Gacayan bounced back for the clincher at 8-5 in the third set. A thrilling crucial 4th set kept the crowd guessing for the outcome as Acmad Sani and Alex Yusoph of JRTC sustained the lead at 3-2 and 4-3, but Rudill Mativo and Dennis Lindong corroborated with a 3-0 run for a comfortable 6-3 reversal. The JRTC duo pulled level at 6-6, but the team Kim & Kriz duo proved steadier in the nerve-raking homestretch to prevail at 8-6 for the match, and the Lower Mix crown. Organized and managed by the Association of Tennis Clubs (Astec)-Jeddah, this event is principally sponsored by Arabian Aircraft Services Co. Ltd. (Arabasco). Co-sponsors are Deltaz, Adwaa Al-Tamayuz Contracting Co. Ltd., Skyfreight Forwarders, Malaysia Airlines & TFC (The Filipino Channel) Abs-Cbn. __
