JBTP sailed to an easy 4-1 victory against JRTC-6 in their Category LMX outing, as Pepsi Bugshan-SCTC kept its winning streak to three and grabbed group leadership in B2 Category. Jollibee continued to power its way to the top – this time in the MMX Category – by brushing aside Zuhair Fayez Partnership in the elimination round of the 1st Top Cup Team Tennis Challenge, played at the tennis courts of Al-Bilad and Sheraton hotels here. With the partnership of Jessie/Noel and Lito/Dante getting the better breaks against the pairs of Hani/Rolly and Darwish/Farouq respectively on identical 8-4 scores, Lacoste-JBTP set the kill. JRTC-6 bounced back in the pressure-laden third set as the stubborn pair of Nash/Amin scored an 8-3 win against Allan/Boy Baltazar. A determined Lacoste-JBTP eventually marched to victory as Noel/Toto crushed Tuffs/Alex pair at 8-1 in the fourth set, with the duo of Conrad/Agapito raking the more points in the no-bearing fifth set with an 8-5 score. In Category B2, Pepsi-Bugsan/SCTC won its third match against JIS Tennis club with the duo of Efren Bulatao/Leo scoring 8-3 against Renz/Bernie, followed by Rowell Cuasay/Ronnie Santos proving steadier in the tie-break against Carlo/Jun Alunday, and Ramil Abdua/Amin Paraji blanked Raffy/George, to complete an easy straight three-set sweep. Pepsi Bugshan-SCTC dropped the fourth set as Francis Balde/Darwish Bederi lost to Ricky/Sam Silvestre 6-8, but Ernie/Digo Boringot won against Lito Menes/Rod Baldo at 8-4 for the final 4-1 match tally. In the MMX Category, Jollibee continued to underline superiority and dominance as it squeaked past a tough Zuhair Fayez Partnership in just four sets, and final 3-2 to pocket the match. Drawing first blood, the pair of Dondon/Rey blanked Manny/Robert at 8-0, followed by Randy Martin/Ron scoring an 8-6 against Rhill/Rey in the second set. Zuhair Fayez Partnership refused to buckle down as the veteran tandem of Nilo/Francis prevailed over Joel/Husam in a moral-boasting 8-0 in the crucial third set, but Neil Pulan/Carmelo Nery's 8-3 sealed the match in the fourth stanza against Obet/Ed for team Jollibee. Playing for points, Leo/Dario of Zuhair Fayez defeated Ramon Monterde/Bien Villeta on a 7-8 tie-breaker in the fifth set, for the consolation win. Other match results. Category C: JRTC-1 def. Zuhair Fayez Partnership (4-1), Jollibee-1 def. JRTC-2 (5-0). Category B2: Jollibee-2 def. ASTEC-2 (4-1), JBTP-Lacoste def. Shelter-2 (3-2), JIS-1 def. SPTC-1901 (5-0). Category LMX: JRTC-5 def. ASTEC-2 (4-1). Category MMX: NCB def. Elaf-2 (4-1), JRTC-7 def. Saudi Oger (4-1). Category B1/B: JIS-2 def. ASTEC-3 (3-2). Category HMX: Fuchs def. JBTP-Lacoste (2-1), Jollibee-7 def. ASTEC (2-1). Organized and managed by the Association of Tennis Clubs (ASTEC) Jeddah, this tournament is supported by Al-Kanaah Trading Group, distributors in the Kingdom of Top Cup (France) hot drinks, as the main sponsor. Co-sponsors are Winalite Love Moon Skyfreight Cargo Forwarders and Prince/Deltaz Marketing. __
