JEDDAH — Calling themselves Crazy Cupids in the ongoing SPTC In-house Tournament, this team went out of its way and freed itself from outright elimination after a 4-1 sets win over Team HT at the Abdulaziz University sports complex in this city. Playing under the Legend Category, Jun Tomas and Ariel Domingo started on fire for Team HT with a sudden barrage of 4 un-retrievable serves by Jun T that went outright for a 40-love game scores and a win in the opening game. But Pol Fernandez/Gary Bautro of Team CC doused cold water on their opponents' initiative with a string of 5 unanswered throwbacks that saw them hold serves thrice and break serves twice that overturned the scores into their comfort at 5-1. Team HT's Jun T/Ariel D came close at 5-6, then at 6-7, but Pol F/Gary B held tight of their lead to finish the game at 8-6 for Team CC. Marlon Pagsanjan/Waymor Carmelotes carried their Team HT back into contention in the second doubles, imposing their will with a successive 5 games score before Team CC's Fred Masangkay and Boy Isuga gained composure to chalk up 1 game on the board, but then again, Team HT's Marlon P/Waymor C continued their dominance in the ninth and 10th games to finish off the match at 8-2, and level their team up to 1-1 in the teams match-up. The third set saw a total turnaround game for Team CC that brought HT's Mark Banaag/Romeo Dilla spiraling from their 40-love opening third set exciting and winning game into a heartbreak loss at the hands of CC's Mike Amerol and Rolly Bautista. After a breezing 40-love initial game in the third set, had all the fun of hold-serves throughout, whereas Team HT's Mark Banaag/Romeo Dilla lost serves twice each in the 3rd, 5th, 7th, and 9th games to surrender the match with a whopping 8-1 victory for Team CC's Mike Amerol and Rolly Bautista. It happened again in the fourth set — a 5 successive overtaking game points, as if this was an exclusive calling of Team CC as their doubles team of Celso Abella and Rik Maulion cruised from 0-1 behind to 5-1 lead, then up the ante for 6-1 lead. Team HT's Roman Alcantara/Nasser Cayquep came out fighting and took games 8th and 9th for 3-6, then rose again in the 11th and 12th games for 5-7 deficit, but their momentum was cut short by Team CC's Celso A and Rik M to end the match 8-5 for Team CC. Allan Mabini and Vic Rebong of Team CC took off where their teammates left, overpowering Fernan Fermin and Nilo Gamba of Team HT in the last and fifth set, taking over the match at 2-1 after the opening game loss, then went further ahead to 5-2 after rattling in 3 continuous game winners in the 5th, 6th, and 7th games. Team CC's Allan M and Vic R almost made it at 6-7 to bring the match for a tie-break by breaking the serves of Vic R in the 13th frame, but Allan M and Vic R put a tight grip on their lead in the 14th game to end the match 8-6 for Team CC with a big 4-1 sets victory. Team CC will next play Team SL for the right to meet Team LB in the championship match.
