Facing each other in the finals events of the recently concluded 1st Tropicana Team Tennis Cup, Saudia City Tennis Club (SCTC) and Jeddah Ranao Tennis Club (JRTC) split the championship titles in two categories at stake (C and Lower Mix). Down 2 sets (3-8, 4-8) in the best-of-five doubles, SCTC playing under the banner of Sarawat Superstores briefly bounced back to stay in contention when the duo of Froilan Lim and Ronnie Santos recovered to thwart JRTC's third pair of Alex Yousuf and Raj Pumbaya and took the third set 8-5. Despite tenacious efforts of SCTC's Franco Baluyot and Benny Espina to level the game, the tandem of Tuffs Laguindab and Malik Mayo sealed the match 3-1 for JRTC. SCTC immediately avenged its loss in Category C against the same team on the following day, but this time in the final of Category Lower Mix. SCTC Sarawat thrashed JRTC in straight sets 3-0 (8-5, 8-7, 85) to capture the championship crown in Lower Mix. In the other finals game of the Higher Mix Category, which included B/B+ players, Lito Dare and Loy Escabusa of Aquafina team surprised the tested pair of George Bornales and Mhedz Mabang of JCC-Al-Jazeera to win the first set 8-5. But that was the last set Aquafina could muster as they were subdued by JCC in the next 3 sets to clinch the championship in this Category 3-1 (5-8, 8-6, 8-3, 8-2). A record of 59 teams, including the Ladies Division, participated in various categories of the tournament, playing 5 doubles and a best-of-3-pairs format. The tournament which started last on July 11, held its awarding ceremonies at the JIS Compound last Friday. Organized by JIS-SITC this tennis event was primarily sponsored by Tropicana Juice, with Racquet Shop of Delta Marketing and Lipton Tea of Unilever Arabia as Co-sponsors. Complete list of winners: Champions: C-JRTC, B2-Saudia Tropicana; Lower Mix - Saudia Sarawat, B1-Almabani; Higher Mix - JCC Al-Jazeera. Ladies: C-JIS Edma; Ladies Mixed - Vismin Topseed; Finalists: C-Saudia, B2-JIS La Paz Batchoy; Lower Mix - JRTC, B1-JBTP Odracir; Higher Mix - Aquafina; Ladies C & Mixed - KAMC Amico. __
