JEDDAH — It was a fitting send-off tournament by the Samahang Pinoy Tennis Club (SPTC), as it hosted one more match-up for its former chairman, Cesar Pabico, before seeing him take leave last weekend from its regular weekend playground, the tennis courts of Abdulaziz University here. "One last game with SPTC" was arranged featuring the SPTC ex-chairman, Pabico, and Gary Bautro (another former club chairman) versus two other former SPTC chairmen — Ali Callanta and Pol Fernandez. Fernandez and Callanta shot into 2-0 lead after a hold-serve by Fernandez and breaking the serve of Pabico. Gary Bautro-Cesar Pabico rallied, leading 3-2 after the 5th game by breaking the serves of Callanta and Fernandez, with a sandwiched held-serve by Bautro in the 4th game. Callanta and Fernandez, however, broke the serves of Pabico in the 6th game at 15-40, followed by hold-serve of 40-30 by Callanta to regain the lead 4-3. Bautro held serve in the 8th game to level up at 4-4, but Fernandez would not let go of their lead in the next service game and held serve to maintain their advantage 5-4. Pabico held serve in the 10th game with 40-30 to equalize the scores at 5-5. But that seemed to be his last service game with SPTC-Jeddah as the tandem of Callanta and Fernandez rattled in a string of 3 successive games to close out the match at 8-5. In the other featured game, which was a prelude to the awarding ceremony, Mean Men's Eman Osman, a budding and young star of SPTC, helped the SPTC "young blood" dominate the SPTC "oldies" by withering the resistance of Cesar Quilenderino, representing the 60-years above with an exhausting singles battle. Usman won 8-4. In a fitting ceremony, the new SPTC chairman, Ariel Domingo, delivered a vote of thanks and handed a plaque of appreciation to Cesar Pabico. The members of the Kapuso team who received their titles with champions' medals were: Celso Abella, Norwin Catipay, Bernie Soguilon, Gary Bautro, Leo Milarion, Mashur Jamiri, Mike Amerol, Roman Alcantara, Waymour Carmelotes, Romeo Poras, Rolly Bautista, Rolly Saldana, Ali Callanta, Arnold Tambalo, Rick Maulion, Yusuf Adriatico, Vic Rebong, and Nilo Gamba. Mike Amerol and Roman Alcantara bagged the Best Doubles award.
