(standing from left) Salem Limpao, Allan Magompara, Mike Sharif, Camar Pancho, Eric Moa, Saleh Bucay, Jamael Batara, Ding Capal, Amen Minalang, Rex Benaning, Jed Alonto, Omar Mapandi, Habib Batua, Elias Mangka, Lumpie Cornel, (sitting from left) Asraf Balindong, Spiderman Ismael, Jimmy Usman, Bryan Limpao, Allan Malawanda, Abeth Saliling, Ahmad Tangcolo, Samad Macogar, & Acmali Dagalangit

RIYADH (08-June-2007) –The 2nd Regional Tennis Tournament between Ranao Tennis Club (RTC) of Riyadh and Ranao Overseas Tennis Association (ROTA) of Dammam has finally got off to a fine start yesterday evening at the Al-Ghosaibi Tennis Courts, Al-Khobar, despite of the humidity in that city.

RTC members lead by its acting tournament director Allan Magompara triumphantly returned back to Riyadh, bringing with them the 2nd perpetual trophy donated by Tamimi Trading/Fierstone of Al-Khobar through its dedicated staff Abdulrahim “Philip” Kiram, who happens to be a die-hard member of ROTA.
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RTC players, who narrowly won the first showdown, bagged only 7 wins out of the 12 matches, out of which ROTA got 4 wins. Due to the shortage of time, a one last game was declared tie.

Right after the games, ROTA president Atty. Ibrahim Bagumbun formally handed over the perpetual trophy to RTC president Saleh Ampaso Bucay. Atty. Babumbun reiterated in his short but concise message that the tournament was a mere tool to strengthen the closeness of the members of both clubs.

Mr. Bucay recalls that the 1st regional tournament was started in 2003. The first 3 attempts of ROTA to win the 1st perpetual trophy, which was donated by the Federation of Maranao Associations in Saudi (FEMAS), were unfavorable. But finally in the fourth round they were able to take the trophy with them. Since then, at least two times, RTC tried to grab it back but in vain. Until finally, it was logically agreed to conclude the tournament by awarding the perpetual trophy to ROTA as its permanent caretaker.

RTC players who braved the sand storm along the way to Dammam were Samad Macogar, Camar Pancho, Lumpie Cornel, Ding Capal, Elias Mangka, Jimmy Usman, Mike Sharif, Eric Moa, Salem Limpao, Jed Alonto, Omar Mapandi, Allan Malawanda, Abeth Saliling, Saleh Bucay, Habib Batua, Asraf Balindong, Bryan Limpao, Spiderman Ismael, Rex Baning, Amen Minalang, Ali Pamlian, and Acmali Dagalangit.