Brown of Bong Bueta showed little mercy as it nailed Iloilo-Maroon team of Jun Aguilar with a 19-point margin to win the Sinag Pinoy Cup Team Tennis Challenge at the Al-Yamama Hotel Tennis Courts here recently. The members of the team erupted in joy after they secured the last point needed in cementing their right to the title. Three of its players also won Best Players honors. Zamboanga crushed Iloilo-Maroon 39-28 in the final match. The only consolation for the losing side was that its top seeded players in B1 and B2 category secured the best players awards. On Court 5, Baguio-Yellow of Ed Duco, the main rival of Zamboanga for the crown, succumbed to pressure against equally formidable Dumaguete Team of Ting Banday. In the end both the teams had to face each other where Baguio collapsed and had to be relegated to No. 3, while Dumaguete was dumped outside the magic four. Armed with team spirit and determination, the Cebu-Red team of President Tony Fernandez skyrocketed from No. 9 spot to the second spot after overtaking the perennial runner-up Baguio with a slim margin of two points (239-237). The Marawi-Sky Blue of Ed Sarmiento trailed Dumaguete with a margin of five points, but mounted a comeback for the ages when it surprised the Legaspi-Dark Blue team of Chito Umandal to secure the 3rd runner-up spot (233 points). Elsewhere, although Manila-Gray team of Bobot Mabini failed to reach the Magic Four, two of its players were named Best Players — Allan Malones (C3) and Giffard Oloan (C4). Others to claim players honors were: Roy Gangoso and Jonathan del Pilar (B1/B2), Joemarie Machitar and John Bayucot (B3/B4), Mar Sawadjaan and Rey Rivera (B5/B6), Allan Raagas and Ed Duco (C1/C2) and Johnny Suan (C3). A total of 12 ten-member teams participated in the tournament, organized by Pinoy Netters Club 102 with the help of Bayanihan Cargo and Nick Real. Champion: Zamboanga-Brown Team (258-25) - Bong Bueta (B1), Tony Siega (B2), Arlie Llunar (B3), Lindy Nombrado (B4), Mar Sawadjaan (B5), Rey Rivera (B6), Joebert Ang (C1), Chum Kangiluhan (C2), Johnny Suan (C3) & Fernan Cabalum (C4). 1st Runner-up: Cebu-Red Team (239-23) – Mario Torifiel (B1), Serge Ariola (B2), Joe Gutierrez (B3), Nelson Martirez (B4), Tony Fernandez (B5), Gilbert Faustino (B6), Uldrich Perez(C1), Bong Matutina (C2), Ronaldo Zabala (C3) & Lino (C4). 2nd Runner-up: Baguio-Yellow Team (237-20) – Ronnie Oliver (B1), Marlon Aliasas (B2), Nelson Gonzales (B3), Julius Pernia(B4), Hermie Soliven (B5), Jigs Gadiano (B6), Allan Raagas (C1), Ed Duco (C2), Rey Javier (C3) & Randy Ramos (C4). 3rd Runner-up: Marawi – Sky Blue Team (233-22) – Ed Sarmiento (B1), Ogie Ralar (B2), Arnel Orda (B3), Butch Magalong (B4), Manny Aumentado (B5), Emil Manapsal (B6), Ramil Macawili (C1), Henry Torio (C2), Felix Collado (C3) and Joseph Sylvestre (C4). __
