Saudia Catering kept its hopes alive of moving into the next round when it won against RSTP 3-1 in their LMX match while Aziziyah fortified its chances with a 2-2 (25-20) win against JRTC-Rashid as the battle for three remaining slots in the LMX Group II remains wide open among the five teams in the 5th ALBAIK Tennis Tournament 2013.
In the MMX category, Alzate-Murcia finished the eliminations with a 2-2 win-loss record beating JRTC-Jimmy 3-1 and giving JRTC its first loss in three matches.
The match was tied 1-1 going into the third set after Saudia Catering’s Anas and Al Gamal took the first set with an 8-4 win against Saeed and Joel Quimpo then RSTP’s Ikot and Dondon Alcantara countered with an 8-3 win over Dr. Mounir and Mohd Noor Halil.
But Farouk Salacop and Sammy Macapaar nearly blanked Alex Tam and Ahmad Lagman at 8-1 to give Caterers a 2-1 lead with a plus six advantage. Michael and Alex Modi then made sure the match was theirs when they raced to an 8-4 win against Jonathan Contreras and Cris Balles to give the 3-1 victory for Saudi Catering.
Azizeyah had to work hard specially in the fourth set, with defeat staring it in the face, against JRTC-Rashid. Thanks to Awes and Faizan, 8-1 winnners over Rashid and Tuffs Laguindab, Azizeyah nailed the match 2-2 (25-20). First set was won by Bashamah and Khaled at 8-3 against Jimmy Sultan and Rash Guindolongan to give Azizeyh a 1-0 lead. But JRTC controlled the next two sets with Raj and Raldy Sultan winning 8-6 against Rezayath-Amer and Noroden and Ken Mapandi taking the third set at 8-3 against Ibrahim and Belal.
In the MMX category, Alzate-Murcia blew the match wide open as they won three sets in succession before losing the fourth set to register a 3-1 victory against JRTC-Jimmy. First set saw Loi Escabusa and Efren Bulatao winning 8-4 against Noroden and Tuffs Laguindab. Second set had Padel Page and Robert Rayos surviving the tie-break to register an 8-7 win over Barra and Daud Mua then for the clincher, Ruben Alzate and Fred Masangkay decisioned Jimmy Sultan and Albert Bayot 8-4. Kris Temblique and Alex Pena were the only losers for Murcia as they bowed to Maroouf Pantaran-Acmad Sani 6-8.
Despite their hectic schedule, Astec officers took time out to launch an ongoing campaign to solicit donations for the victims of typhoon Haiyan (local name Yolanda) that devastated central Philippines and would like to thank all those who have generously given their share for this humanitarian cause.
Organized by Association of Tennis Clubs in Jeddah (Astec) under the helm of its chairman Francis Idjao Jr. and Tournament Director Tonton Pana, this 26th Astec team tennis tournament is presented in partnership with ALBAIK Food Systems Co. Ltd. represented by Bassam Al-Seyofi (PR-manager), Mahmoud Al-Jaber (marketing coordinator) and Ed Cabiedes (branch manager) and is supported by Deltaz Marketing (Racquet Shop) courtesy of Tony Kassis, Maher Tebakhi and Amin Malik. Also providing support is Sky Freight Forwarders, TFC The Filipino Channel and Pepsi Bugshan.
Saudia Catering, Azizeyah, Alzate-Murcia triumph in ALBAIK netfest
Saudia Catering, Azizeyah, Alzate-Murcia triumph in ALBAIK netfest
Bayern demolishes Wolfsburg 8-1 to go 11 points clear in Bundesliga
- Bayern hasn’t lost a Bundesliga game since March and remains the only unbeaten team in any of Europe’s five biggest leagues
Michael Olize scored twice as Bayern Munich started the new year by routing Wolfsburg 8-1 with six second-half goals to move 11 points clear at the top of the Bundesliga.
Olize, Harry Kane and Luis Díaz picked apart the Wolfsburg defense on Sunday in a display of dominance which leaves Bayern firmly on course to defend the title in only the 16th game of the 34-game season.
Bayern coach Vincent Kompany was pleased his players didn’t let up.
“It’s these moments where it’s five, six, 7-1, and they keep running, they keep pressing and keep trying to score goals,” he told broadcaster DAZN. “I have to say, I like that.”
In freezing temperatures for Bayern’s first game since the winter break, Olize got a brace and Kane and Díaz one apiece, along with goals for substitutes Raphael Guerreiro and Leon Goretzka, and two Wolfsburg own-goals.
Bayern only had two nervous moments all game. The first was Dzenan Pejcinovic’s goal for Wolfsburg in the 13th, which leveled the score at 1-1 after right back Konrad Laimer missed an interception.
The other was a brief injury scare for Kane, who needed treatment after being caught on the ankle by defender Moritz Jenz midway through the first half but was soon back in action.
It was Bayern’s biggest margin of victory in a Bundesliga game since Kompany took over ahead of the 2024-25 season. His team has scored a remarkable 63 goals in 16 league games this season, nearly four per game, and conceded only 12.
Bayern hasn’t lost a Bundesliga game since March and remains the only unbeaten team in any of Europe’s five biggest leagues. Wolfsburg is 14th, three points above the relegation zone, as a troubled season hits a new low.
Bayern’s closest rivals all had difficulties this weekend as second-place Borussia Dortmund drew 3-3 with Eintracht Frankfurt, Bayer Leverkusen lost 4-1 to Stuttgart and Leipzig’s game was postponed due to snow.
Wolfsburg’s American midfielder Kevin Paredes entered in the 77th minute, his first match this season after recovering from foot surgery in August.
Also Sunday, United States full back Joe Scally scored his first goal since 2023 as Borussia Moenchengladbach beat Augsburg 4-0. Gladbach moved up two places to 10th after winning at home for only the second time this season.
