Determined to nail the top position in Group One, Sarawat Superstores of Saudia City Tennis Club dealt NCB its second loss with a 3-2 win in a tight match (8-4, 5-8, 6-8, 8-7, 8-3) to stand only a match away from securing a berth in the round of 16. Team BB & Company pulled a spectacular come-from-behind (3-8, 0-8 8-3, 8-7, 8-3) win over SG Tennis Club in C category matches, while Carlo Gavazzi outclassed SG entry in B1 category in a one-sided 5-0 (8-2,8-7, 8-2, 8-1, 8-1) match, as the elimination rounds of the ongoing “1st Arabasco Tennis Challenge” team tennis tournament being played at the tennis courts of Albilad and Sheraton Hotels, nears completion. Ahead 1-0 with Richard Harris and Reggie Hizon breezing past the Eddie Belen/Ronald Ricardo duo at 8-4, Sarawat Superstores suddenly found itself behind in a nerve-breaking 1-2 deficit as Sohail Al-Fayez of team NCB subdued Roni Santos at 8-5, while the tandem of Froilan Lim/Jess Batingal bowed against the Rowell Legaspi and Eric Rivera pair. Proving a tough nut to crack, Sarawat Superstores took the match into fifth set as Erni Hayahay quelled Hani Kordi in a tight match ending at 7-5 (8-7) in the tie-breaker of the 2nd singles. In the heart-dropping deciding set, Alex Yusop and Teddy Taryono caught fire from the fourth stanza, and completed a mighty turn around with an 8-0 blast from 0-3 deficit to a final 8-3 match clincher. With the tandem of Agot Delas Alas and Dani Paygane spearheading an 8-3 conquest of Domeng Cobreros and Jeffrey Vargas of team BB & Company in the first set, SG went for the kill as Adam Galon demolished Lito Sullano in the singles match with an 8-0 tally. Back against the wall, team BB & Company kept its hopes alive as the battle-scarred tandem of Dan Gargullo and Larry Montoya rode on a 6-0 edge to cruise past Orlee Reyes and Almond Panganiban in the crucial third set with a convincing 8-3 tally. Team BB & Company evened the match at 2-2 as Agot Cuevas proved steadier in the homestretch with a 7-5 (8-7) squeaker in the extended tie break over Jun Queano in a bitterly-contested encounter in the second singles. Riding on the momentum of the previous set, Derek Nidoy and Fred Lacap coordinated smoothly with confidence and delivered an 8-3 clincher to push team BB & Company in the winner's column and stay alive for a berth in the next level. Carlo Gavazzi raced ahead Bong Tipon and Fadi demolished Adan and Abdul Rahman in the first doubles. With Joel Sardoma of SG folding under pressure against Dr. Hussein in a tie-breaker ending at 7-5 (8-7), Carlo Gavazzi maintained its unblemished record as the brothers' tandem of Jun and Raymond Miguel displayed supervisor skills and coordination for an 8-2 destruction of Erwin Tolentino and Sev Sumaya in the third set. Carlo Gavazzi ravaged for more points as Abdullah Abdullah delivered an 8-1 result against Tonton Pana in the second singles, while Francis Idjao and Tony Mirasol displayed unbeatable form with a similar 8-1 result against the tandem of Alex Duma and Cromwel Marzo. Organized and managed by the Association of Tennis Clubs (Astec)-Jeddah, the tournament is principally sponsored by Arabian Aircraft Services Co. Ltd. (Arabasco). Co-sponsors are: Deltaz, Adwaa Al Tamayuz Contracting Co. Ltd., Sky Freight Forwarders, Malaysia Airlines & TFC (The Filipino Channel) ABS-CBN. __
