Living up to its name, team Enjaz Magics weaved its magical game and squeaked past Elaf, to notch their first win in category B2 in a hard-fought 3-2 verdict via 8-5, 3-8, 8-2, 4-8, 8-2; while Toyota Al Jacs, winner of best uniform in Category C, also proved their class in a come-from-behind reversal at the expense of Samahang Pinoy Tennis Club (SPTC) via the second, third and fourth sets (6-8, 8-5, 8-1, 8-6, 6-8) and Sete BN/Jundi Factory engaged JRTC in a bitter down-the-wire battle in four sets, before strolling away with a default win in the fifth set (8-3, 7-8, 7-8, 8-6, 8-0), in the elimination rounds of the men's division of the ongoing second AL-Baik Tennis Challenge, being played at the tennis courts of Albilad Hotel and Sheraton Hotel here. Enjaz Magics surged ahead as the pair of Ramil Abdua and Albert Bayot set the pace by prevailing (8-5) over Elaf's Rhill Macapagal and Ed Umlas. With Rey Tablang and Francis Lenguaje outclassing Amin Paraji and Arman Bucad (8-3), Elaf pulled even at 1-1, but Enjaz bounced back with the Magic pair of Ruben Alzate and James Bentic registering an 8-4 victory against Elaf's Freddy Dominguez and Leo Lopez to set the kill at 2-1. Proving a hard nut to crack, a stubborn Elaf leveled the match at 2-2, as Manny Bambilla and Obet Tumale knocked down the Enjaz Magics pair of Litho De Mesa and Rolly Agbunag with a 8-2 winner in the crucial fourth set. In the nerve-shattering fifth set, the Enjaz tandem of Arthur Pascual and Leo Casino capitalized a slight advantage and subdued Elaf's June Atienza and Dario Palon at 8-4. With Zaldy Manlolo and Melchor Uy bowing 6-8 to Abdul Karim of Roy Silva of SPTC in the first set, Toyota Al Jacs shifted to high gear as Romeo Espino and Prince Nara took the second set at 8-5 against Pio Coronado and Robby Manginsay. As Nour Panizales and Edwin Calara sailed past SPTC's Dante De Claro and Danny Zabate at 8-1 in the crucial third canto, captain Angel Olmoguis and Jose Aquino brushed aside the stiff challenge of Joel Chan and Jorge Cervantes of SPTC in a strength-sapping 8-6 match clincher in the fourth set. With their minds focused on points, the SPTC pair of Lito Bentulan and Fritz Perico secured the fifth set and nailed the match and points at 8-6 as consolation against Karl Dexter Fernandez and Christopher Nullan of Toyota Aljacs. In another Category C match at Sheraton Hotel, Nestor Ferrer and Jun Catangcatang of Sete BN-Jundi Factory pushed their team upfront with an 8-3 winner against Ken and Wowee Mapandi of JRTC. Undaunted, JRTC pulled abreast at one apiece with Daud Mua and Deleon Dipatuan pocketing the next leg against Anton Torres and Roy Santos in a nerve-cracking 8-7 tiebreaker. Michael Pangandam and Rashid Mapunod took the cue from the previous set, proved steadier in another heart-dropping extended game at 8-7, against Anthony Antonio and Jay Laureano of Sete BN-Junti Factory. Under pressure, Mardi Alonzo and Webb Pango failed to recover their rhythm and conceded fourth set to Celso Partosa and Remy Linguaje of Sete BN-Jundi Factory, who leveled the match at 2-2 with a one-sided 8-1 that proved crucial as JRTC failed to produce a double in the fifth deciding set to concede the match in a heart-breaking 2-3 loss. Other match results: Shelter (Cat. B2) bt JRTC, 3-2, Saudi British Bank (Cat. C) bt Enjaz Magic-2, 3-2, National Commercial Bank (Lower Mix) bt MCTC 4-1, JRTC-2 (Cat. C) bt ASTEC, JBTP (Cat. B2) bt ASTEC (Cat. B2) 3-1 (double default in fifth game), Zuhair Fayez (Lower Mix) bt APAK 4-1 and Sarawat (Cat. B2) bt SPTC, 3-2. Organized and managed by the Association of Tennis Clubs (ASTEC) Jeddah, this tournament is supported by Al-Baik as the main sponsor, under the aegis of Bassam Al-Seyofi (PR Manager) and Ed Cabiedes (Area Manager). Co-sponsors are Prince-Deltaz, Al-Injaz, Metro Bank (Philippines) and The Filipino Channel (TFC). __
