RIYADH – The Bayanihan Cup Team Tennis Challenge, with 144 players participating, is drawing a capacity crowd with the emergence of top players in the tennis community. Four strong teams in the ongoing tournament are competing their way into the leaderboard every Thursday and Friday at the Al-Yamamah Hotel Sports Complex here. Seeing action every Thursday and Friday until Oct. 12 are members of Pinoy Netters Club 102 and guests from various tennis associations. Teensquad Netters of Alsadat Bakil dominated the game during the week along with Centenciadores Team in the sixth and seventh rounds. During the sixth showdown the Teensquad Netters pulled off an upset when they beat highly favored Centenciadores with a set score of 5-1 (43-33 game points). Gerry De Guzman and Mark Navarro overpowered the erratic July Maniacap and Ricky Ortega at 8-6. Charles Gavino and Julius Pernia's consistent game outgunned Anthony Guiao and Fidel Ferrer, 8-4, in the second doubles. Alsadat Bakil and Belmar Indencia scored an impressive win over the experienced pair of Nelson Barcenas and Dodie Vizcarra, 8-6. Cesar Toquero and John Jake Ferrer conquered the magic spell of the spirited game of Tony Fernandez and Jobert Ang in a tie-break score of 8-7 in the fourth doubles, Tony Monter and Henry Torio slipped in their winning form over the perennial pair of Rauf Abubandar and Dennis Recio 8-5 in the fifth doubles while Ariel Manicdao and Julius Capati bowed to the consistent Jaime Vidante and Teddy Marpuri, 3-8. An impressive performance by the Teensquad members led by its captain Alsadat Bakil and assistant captain Charles Gavino, earned them a 5 sets to 1 decision against Centenciadores thereby clinching the honor as Team of the Week. The intense and nerve wracking games between Intensity 12 and Green Xtreme resulted in an equal score of 3 sets won and both teams hold their solid positions among the four top teams in the current tournament. The tandem of Rodel Llanuza and Jojo Balisi overwhelmed Jess Balisi and Jojo Ingles, 8-3. Bong Matutina and Giffard Olaan outplayed the pair of Jimmy Casas and Lito Salvador, 8-3, in the second doubles while the third pair of Boy Rogel and Bong Cardino brushed aside the erratic play of Ferdinand Alarcon and Danny Cruz 8-5. JP Guiao and Roger Matira were outclassed by the consistency of Rodel Corros and the power serve of Ed Duco while Emmanuel Fabria and Dexter Solano were outplayed by the excellent game of JR Orgasan and Jeff Balisi in another exciting game in the fifth doubles, 8-6. Gil Gasca and Jonathan Del Pilar were no match to the power game of Mario Torefiel and Dexter Iwayan in the remaining doubles, 1-8. Ace of Ten Team beat equally strong team BigaTen with a total game points of 41-34. Results as follows: Arnel Orda and Bong Bueta beat Willy Nicolas and Jomari Machitar 8-2 in the B1-B2 category; John Bayucot and Richard Go dominated Albin Guinto and Nick Lozada 8-2; Angel Jarobel and Vir Rubio beat Ferdie Liwanag and Voltaire Urdaneta 8-6; Nasil Kalayakan and Ken Bonquit were outclassed by Ed “Boba” Gangat and Ronnie “Jigs” Gadiano 7-8; Boy Tan and Arvin Bermudez went down to Frank Orias and Rey Javier 6-8 and Tisoy de Leon and Alex dela Cruz bowed to Yunos Ong and Abdul Jalil 8-4. In other matches, Tenistang Pinoy Team of Chito Umandal and Romy Penaflor were outplayed by the power games of Tennis Warriors' Ernan Santiago and Ting Banday, 2-4 (36-39); X Treme Netters of Jun Aguilar and Jad Adriano won over D'Consistence of Ed Avis and Ogie Ralar, 4-2 (42-38) and D'Lieutenants of Eric Villano and Hermie Soliven and Top Ten of Ed Sarmiento and Maeng Siojo posted equally earned 41 games points but D'Lieutenants dominated in 4 sets against 2 sets earned by Top Ten Team. During the 7th showdown Friday, Ace of Ten of Bong Bueta and Ken Bonguit pinned down Top Ten, 4-2 (39-38); Teensquad of Alsadat Bakil and Charles Gavino made a close fight with Tennis Warrior of Ernan Santiago and Ting Banday, 3-3 (38-40); Tenistang Pinoy of Chito Umandal and Romy Penaflor crushed down D'Consistence of Ed Avis and Ogie Ralar, 5-1 (41-20); Centenciadores of Tony Fernandez and Jobert Ang who were awarded as Team of the Week outnumbered D'Lieutenants of Eric Villano and Hermie Soliven, 5-1 (43-33); Intensity 12 of Jonathan Del Pilar and Bong Matutina maintained its supremacy by equally sharing their sets points against the aggressive Bigaten Team of Frank Orias and Rey Javier, 3-3 (33-37). X'Treme Netters of Jun Aguilar and Jad Adriano holding its second position dominated Green XTreme of Ed Duco and Dexter Iwayan (4th position) ended in a close fight finish, 3-3 (41-37). Team standing after Game 7: 1. Intensity 12 (26-269), 2. Xtreme Netters (24-280), 3. Bigaten (24-280), 4. Green Xtreme (23-265), 5. Tenistang Pinoy (23-260), 6. Centenciadores (22-262), 7. D' Lieutenants (20-262), 8. Teensquad (19-255), 9. Tennis Warriors (19-248), 10. Top Ten (18-262), 11. D' Consistence (17-242),12. Ace of Ten (17-239).
