touted Gray-Alibangbang sustained its momentum during the last and crucial matches over the weekend to clinch the title of Pinoy Cup 2011 Team Tennis Tournament over their fiercest rival and erstwhile frontrunner, Yellow-Molave. The championship was organized by Pinoy Netters Club (PNC), a Philippine Embassy-registered tennis clique. A total of 120 tennis players battled it out to win honors and trophies in the tournament that began on Feb. 24. Twelve teams comprising of 10 players competed and matches were played on Thursdays in a single round-robin format. The tournament's format stipulated that the team captain was responsible for the players' pairing and matches against opponents. Two singles and four doubles matches were played during the duration of the tournament. Tennis players who competed were members of PNC and their invited friends. Gray-Alibangbang fought tooth and nail to eke out critical wins over the consistent Blue-Narra, 43 games to 40, to scoop up the lead over erstwhile leader Yellow-Molave. After seven matches, both Gray-Alibangbang and Yellow-Molave accumulated 278 games. Gray-Alibangbang posted solid wins against Blue-Narra by capitalizing on its players' consistent games to sustain its lead and eventually registered the crucial four-point advantage, 27-23, over Yellow-Molave, the frontrunner two weeks going into 7th and final match. It was the tenacity and experience of Gray-Alibangbang's top player, Ricky Ortega, that sealed the team's victory. Had he lost the final match against Blue-Narra's veteran player, July Maniacap, the Yellow-Molave would have clinched the championship. Ortega prevailed over Maniacap in a grueling tie-break, 8-7. Significantly, three Gray-Alibangbang's players ended up Best Players. Aside from Ortega in the B1 level, Jess Butalid and Richard Go prevailed over their opponents in B4 and B7 categories, respectively. Yellow-Molave was the tournament's leader after the 5th and 6th matches, way ahead of its closest rivals, Gray-Alibangbang and Black-Kamagong. Blue-Narra trailed them in 4th and 5th positions after those matches, respectively. Green-Akasya stunned the heavily favored Yellow-Molave, 45 games to 33, by its players' booming serves and crushing forehand winners in a nerve-racking final showdown, eventually relegating the latter to the second winning spot. Owing to consistent match results during the last two weeks, Blue-Narra, meanwhile, ended up in third place with a total of 271 games and 24 sets. Although Black-Kamagong was hammered by Orange-Agoho, 32 games to 38, it bagged the last winning spot with high percentage points. Its total overhaul of 32 games and 2 sets were enough to propel it to the last winning slot. Overall, it posted 267 games and 22 sets. The best players in their respective categories were: B1 – Ricky Ortega, Gray-Alibangbang (9.55 points) and Ernan Santiago, Maroon-Bakawan (9.00); B2 – Nemie Zorilla, Green-Akasya (8.05); B3 – Charles Gavino, White-Balete (8.35); B4 – Jess Butalid, Gray-Alibangbang (7.90); B5 – Bandar Dalisay, Orange-Agoho (7.35); B6 – Mirza Talat Baig, White-Balete (9.20); B7 – Richard Go, Gray-Alibangbang (9.20); B8 – Butch Habisi, Yellow-Molave (7.95); B9 – Joe Ganseco, Pink-Mulawin (8.35) and B10 – Arnold Gamboa, Pink-Mulawin, (6.60). Since 2003, PNC has been assisting needy Filipinos back home through civic-oriented groups such as Bantay Bata 163, Golden Acres (Home for the Aged), Pangarap Foundation, among others. “Proceeds from this tournament and succeeding tennis competitions shall be donated to non-profit organizations assisting less fortunate Filipinos back home,” said Ed Sarmiento, PNC President. __
