JEDDAH — Saudia City Tennis Club's Reem Instant Flavored Drink ladies teams dominated the opposition after winning their assignments in their category to assure themselves of a place in the semifinals rounds. Reem-SCTC SMXB1 topped its category when it defeated Bavaria-Taif 2-1 to maintain a 3-0 win-loss slate, while the SCTC-Reem LMX closed out the eliminations round with a 2-1 slate after winning over its Bavaria-Taif counterpart 3-0. In the men's B1 Category ZAITOWN won against Al Baik to garner second ranking going into the semifinals with a 3-1 win. In Category C, JRTC-Ewaton won a tightly-fought match against Toyota 2(28)-2(23) to boost its chances of moving into the round of 16 as the matches switch to the more exciting knockout rounds of the 7th Al Baik Tennis Tournament 2015 played at the sprawling courts of Trio Ranch Country Club here. SCTC-Reem SMXB1 team started out strong as Von Daligdig and Malou Sabio fashioned out an 8-5 victory against Dhudz Villanueva and Kris Temblique of Bavaia-Taif to strike a point in the first set. In the second set, however, SCTC's Dang Bangit and Exan Dimaronsing were taken to tie-break by Joy Demesa and Nilo Borata and eventually were subdued at 7-8 to put the match in a deadlock at 1-1. It was supposed to be a cliffhanger third set but Bavaria's Nita Molina and Egay Go were not able to come on the scheduled time and were declared default, giving Ali Sakay and Nympha Sakay the win at 8-0 and the match to SCTC-Reem with a score of 2-1. In the LMX Category, SCTC-Reem again had a good start, as Levi Apacionado and Ghie Asmiralde took the first set with a close 8-6 win against Divine Calleja and Chrisanel Duano of Bavaria-Taif. In the second set, SCTC-Reem's Hannah Salmon and Weng Castro played all out to edge Mary Grace Tango and Marilou Navarro at 8-4 for the set and the match at 2-0. Adding to the misery of team Bavaria-Taif was the no-show of Lita Molina and Den Sabio to be declared default, giving SCTC-Reem's Hezyl Lozada and Maureen Mendoza the 8-0 score for a final match tally of 3-0. Over to the men's B1 Category, ZAITOWN recorded a come from behind win against Al Baik with a 3-1 score. Although ZAITOWN lost the first set with Majid Alkholi and Mohammad Maalof bowing to Nour Halil and Alimbsar Umpa at 4-8 it rallied in the second set singles as Mohannad won against Baraa Usman with a tie-breaker 8-7 score. This was followed by the third set by Belal Al-Heraibi and Said Al Ghamdi with an 8-5 win against Samy Macaapar and Benjie Usman to take the lead at 2-1. In the exciting fourth set decider, it was all tight for ZAITOWN's Ibrahim Akeel and Faizan Hanif as they had to go through a tie-breaker to finally beat Maarouf Pantaran and Raj Pumbaya at 8-7 to secure the set and the match with a 3-1 overall mark. In the eliminations round of Category C Group 4, JRTC-Ewaton kept its hopes alive as it won against Toyota. After taking the first set with Axie Lomontod and Anuar Laguindab beating Dean Medrano and Jhun Labrada at 8-5, Toyota took the second set singles as Dann Bais won over Ali Manding 8-7. In the third set, Toyota kept the pace with another win this time by Renato Reyes and Lito Isaga's 8-5 conquest of Ismael Mua and Jalal Umpa to put Toyota on top 2-1. In the fourth set finale JRTC-Ewaton's Dangcal Macarambon and Jamelon Macaindig stamped their class on Ramil Renagis and Arnold Yabut with an 8-4 win to tie the sets at 2-2. But JRTC had a higher score of 28 as against Toyota's 23 and so JRTC-Ewaton was declared the winner. Organized and managed by the Association of Tennis Clubs in Jeddah (ASTEC) under the helm of its current chairman Bernie Soguilon and Tournament Director Tonton Pana, this tournament is presented in partnership with Al Baik Food Systems Co. Ltd. represented by Bassam Al-Seyofi (PR-manager), Ed Cabiedes (branch manager) and Mazza Farajallah (corporate social responsibility coordinator) and is supported by Deltaz Marketing (Racquet Shop), Skyfreight Forwarders and Pepsi Cola.
