KUWAIT CITY, Feb 8: Top Spinners rode roughshod over Al-Yasra to continue their winning streak with an 8-4 victory over the latter while Steelers and KWT STEEL also won their games at the ongoing KOCTC/FTAK 20th Spring Invitational Team Tennis Tournament Friday at the KOCTC Tennis Club in Ahmadi. It was another exciting week-end with tennis fans braving the low temperatures and dusty atmosphere to see their teams play. In court one action, Top Spinners were shocked when Al Yasra Food took an early lead 3-0 in their Ladies L/L-1 match played earlier. The tandem of Mommy Linda and daughter Jo Moreno gave no chance for Top Spinners pair Ghie de Ferio and Weng Arevalo to gain any point.

The first of the normal scheduled matches saw the first match, C/C-1 taken by Al Yasra Food after Joseph Recreo and Hezer Marquez edged Top Spinners pair of Sung Ho Lee and Jhegs Bernabe. Top Spinners B/C-1 category pair of Sung Ho Lee and Moh’d Saad also clinched a one set win for the team after clearly defeating Francis Santiago and Joseph. Another upset for Top Spinners pair of Rox and Hyoung Sun Paek when Ronnie Rapatan and Robert Malaca of Al Yasra pinned them down in the A/AL-1 match. At this point, Al Yasra was ahead with 3 sets to 1.

Top Spinners came back strnogly with their B/B-1 pair of Regie Lanuza and Byong Woo Chun successfully pinning down Al Yasra’s Noel Candolesas and Eric Gumabao to win. That was followed by another set win by Top Spinners’ Hyoung Sun Paek and Byong Woo Chun who snatched the winner from Cris Belanyo and Robert Malaca in the tie-breaker of the AL/BH-1 category. In yet another set win in the chain of successes for Top Spinners Sammy Miclat pairing with Regie Lanuza eked out a hard win against the pair of Rene Datuin and Cris in the AL/BH-2 match.
Al Yasra Food stepped up their play and took the A/AL-2 match with Ronnie and Rene outlasting Top Spinners pair of Sammy and Rox. At 4 sets wins even, Top Spinners did not allow Al Yasra team to snatch a win. From that point Top Spinners B/C-2 players Danny Bumanlag and Sonny Roble controlled the match by limiting the scoring abilities of Eric Gumabao and Noel Sabillo. Spinners’ Julius Magusara and August Lomboy played more accurately than Al Yasra’s Noel Candolesas and Francis in their B/B-2 match. Top Spinners Danny and Mohd Saad wasted no time in winning the C/C-2 by denying Hezer Marquez and Noel Sarabillo the much needed points. Top Spinners ladies pair of Mylene Moreno and Ghie de Ferio edged the fighting pair of Jo Moreno and Tess Adviento bringing the final score to 8 sets to 4 in favor of Top Spinners.

In court three action featuring the Steelers against Suzuki Marine, the former defeated the latter 9-2. The first match in the C/C-1 category was a tight game but Steelers’ Bryan Basinang and Ednor Luces edged Suzuki’s Mashari Al Shamou and Norman Llano in the tie-breaker. From then on the Steelers pair of Oloy Payales and Jun Orozco continued their conquest in the B/B-1 game against the fighting Suzuki Marine pair of Tony Dezeda and Hassan Al Yousufi. Suzuki’s team manager Tony had his revenge when paired with Fahad Al Jassar to defeat Steelers’ pair of Subra Dutta and Ednor in the B/C-1 game.
In the AL/BH-1 category, William Naoe and Andres Uribe outplayed the tandem of Alem Zubair and Franklin Mariano. Steelers’ Ashraf Al-Rashdi and William likewise dominated the pair of Russel Centino and Alem in their A/AL-1 game. Ali Al Qasem and Andres was a stronger pair than Suzuki’s Mar del Rosario and Romar Macagaling as they won the set by a large point margin in the AL/BH-2 category game. Another strong win was recorded by the Steelers when Arced Condes and Albert Razo successfully pinned down Mar and Roger Sunico in their B/C-2 match.

Also, the pair of Ashraf and Ali proved more consistent and stronger against Bernie dela Cruz and Russel, controlling their A/AL-2 match. One last hurrah by the Suzukis as Adonis Bersales and Romar took the game from Albert and Dodong Bag-o in the tie-breaker of their B/B-2 match.
The Steelers concluded their encounter by the outstanding games of their players for the two remaining matches. Ladies Cynthia Montalvo and Aseel Al Khandari dominated veterans Becky Kabir and Paula Russel by restricting them to a single point only. Arced and Jong Rimando followed suit by a complete game dominance over the pair of Benny Adviento and Duncan Russel in the C/C-2 category match bringing the final score to 9-2 in favor of Steelers.

KOC battled the KWTSTEEL/Diplomat team in court four. Diplomats entered the court ready to redeem their second day heavy loss in the on-going elimination round. This time, they played strongly by successive set winners against the KOC team.
In the first game, Diplomats’ Greg Belista and Ernel Cariño met little resistance against KOC’s Nawaf and brother Abdul Rahman Al-Qattan in their C/C-1 match. Again, Diplomats showed strength when their B/B-1 pair of Lope Gallana and Augusto Santos held and limited the scoring of Ferdie Marasigan and Fahad Al-Qattan. In the B/C-1 category, KOC pair of Atul Kumar and Winston Laboriante made a fight but not enough to overcome Diplomats pair of Nathaniel Delmo and Greg Belista. KOC team had their first set win complements of Marlon Miguel and Rajiv Rajkhowa when they had their best in their AL/BH-1 match against Hassan Mohammed and Augusto.

The Diplomats then unleashed their might in the succeeding matches. Hassan Al Arabi and Andrew Schofield were much more efficient against KOC pair of Ephraim Garcia and Marlon, taking the win in the A/AL-1 match. The AL/BH-2 category match was tightly played but Diplomats duo of Andrew and Roy Laguda had the set win in the tie-breaker against Warly Faner and Rajiv. Ato Mondejar and Eric Alfafara had more winning points against KOC’s Dewan Kabir and Edwin Basuel in their B/C-2 match. In the A/AL-2 category match, Diplomats pair of Hassan Al Arabi and Hassan Mohammed was seen having good plays than Ephraim and Warly, taking the set with wide margin of points.
Diplomats team captain Warlito Congayo Jr paired with Ato edged KOC’s Dante Cosio Ferdie Cabrido in their B/B-2 category match. Diplomats ladies pair of Leah Greiglow and Susie Schofield outplayed the tested KOC ladies pair of Cristy Miguel and Gina Marasigan. KOC team 2nd team set winner was contributed by Mohammed Al-Mutaire and Joel Jimenez Sr by pinning Diplomats pair of Eric Alfafara and Ruel Tawag bringing the final score to 9-2 for KWTSTEEL/Diplomat.

Current Team Standings
Teams Games Win Loss
Played
1 Top Spinners 3 of 5 3 0
2 Steelers 3 of 5 2 1
3 KOC Team 3 of 5 2 1
4 Kuwait Steel/
Diplomat 3 of 5 1 2
5 Suzuki Marine 3 of 5 1 2
6 Al Yasra Food 3 of 5 0 3