JEDDAH: The finals during the weekend in the 8th Albaik Tennis Challenge 2016 were marked by upsets in various categories with defending champions and group leaders toppled.
Defending champions in Category Lower Mix and B2, Uricane Tennis Club (UTC), were dislodged by new challengers SGS Tennis Racquet Club (SGSTRC) and Hidada Tennis Club (HTC) respectively.
In the Lower Mix category (combination of B2/C players), SGS scored a huge upset against UTC, erstwhile undefeated and group leader with a 5-0 win-loss record in the elimination rounds. SGS exacted revenge in the finals for its narrow 1-to-3 set loss against UTC in the round-robin phase, registering a big 8-point advantage after three sets, courtesy of its tandems of Rey Tablang-Nelson Ramos and Romeo Porras-Neil Sta. Clara scoring 8-3 and 8-4 respectively, thus needing only 1 point in the 4th and final set to seal the championship crown for SGSTRC.
UTC suffered another painful setback when it lost in straight sets 8-5, 8-4, 8-4 against Hidada team, powered by veterans Jun Ordonez-Joel Chan in the first set, Andrew Villan-Jojo Magdamo in the second, and Macoy Hernandez-Ryan Bonquiren in this third set to clinch the championship trophy in category B2.
Jeddah Ranao Tennis Club (JRTC), meanwhile, took the championship titles in the other categories, B1-Mix and C. JRTC scored another upset win trouncing erstwhile front-runner and unbeaten ASTEC-Deltaz Marketing team, to whom they lost via super-tie break (2/24 – 2/24) during the elimination rounds, and captured the top-prize in this team competition.
In the other finals match, Saudia City Tennis Club (SCTC) blasted the challenge of Elaf Group to claim the championship in the Middle Mix (B1/B2 combination) category in straight sets victory (8-5, 8-3, 8-5). SCTC’s pair of Sammy Tomalondog-Allan Bandilao started off strongly in the first set, followed by the tandems of Von Daligdig-Michael Landrito and Ricky Delgado-Ramil Abdua.
After 40 days of intense competition among the various tennis clubs in Jeddah, ASTEC concluded its 29th tennis tournament, which attracted 48 teams in both men’s and ladies divisions. The tournament was held daily and used all four tennis court facilities of Trio-Ranch Country Club from Oct. 1 to Nov. 11.
Organized by ASTEC under Chairman Bernie Soguilon, Tournament Director Marlon Delfin, Francis Idjao and Jun Atienza as advisers, this 8th Albaik tennis event is presented yearly in partnership with Albaik Food Systems Inc., and is supported by Deltaz Marketing, Sky Freight Forwarders, Sports Track, and Qatar Airways.
Hidada, SGS, SCTC, JRTC clinch titles in ALBAIK Tennis Challenge
Hidada, SGS, SCTC, JRTC clinch titles in ALBAIK Tennis Challenge
Rabiot double lifts Milan after early scare at Como
- Milan are second in the standings on 43 points, three behind rivals Inter Milan and three clear of Napoli in third, while Como are sixth with 34 points
COMO, Italy: AC Milan came from behind to earn a 3-1 victory at Como on Thursday, with Adrien Rabiot scoring twice to keep the away side in the Serie A title race.
Milan are second in the standings on 43 points, three behind rivals Inter Milan and three clear of Napoli in third, while Como are sixth with 34 points.
Como made the brighter start and took the lead after 10 minutes when Marc-Oliver Kempf rose to head home a corner.
Despite the hosts controlling much of the first half, Milan struck in stoppage time as Christopher Nkunku calmly converted from the penalty spot after Kempf was penalized for pushing Rabiot.
Milan goalkeeper Mike Maignan produced a series of strong saves to keep Como at bay after the break before Milan took the lead in the 55th minute when Rabiot knocked the ball in from close range.
Como were denied an equalizer as Nico Paz saw his effort from outside the box crash against the crossbar. Milan then sealed the win two minutes from time when Rabiot caught the Como defense off guard with a low strike from distance that crept into the bottom corner.
“This was a team victory, we showed our mentality,” Rabiot told DAZN after being named Man of the Match.
“We suffered a lot in the first half, but we talked during the break, came out with a different mentality, we all came out fighting for the three points.
“We gave something extra and I am very happy to score two goals, obviously, but above all I’m pleased with the mentality of the team.”
While Rabiot provided the goals, another Frenchman, goalkeeper Maignan, made his mark with a string of crucial saves.
“We knew that playing here would be difficult, we were well-prepared. We started a little sluggish and they scored, but we managed to keep the game open, and then all together started to play as a team,” Maignan said.
“We know these are great nights for Milan with an atmosphere like this. We suffered, we used up a lot of energy and left it all on the field.”
