Gola trips Asics for squash crown

MANILA, Philippines - Team Gola broke out of a tight battle to barely edge Team Asics, 23 sets to 21, in clinching the fourth Squash Rackets Association of the Philippines (SRAP) celebrity tournament championship at the Manila Polo Club last Saturday.

Team Asics took the early lead in the four-way, star-studded joust, crushing Team Head, 11 sets to 1, but Team Gola slowly inched its way to the top, beating Team Speedo, 8-4, and Team Head, 8-4, while Team Asics lost to Team Speedo, 5-7. In the pivotal tie, Team Gola nipped Team Asics, 7-5 in sets and 105-103 in total points.

Leading the charge for Team Gola was anchor player Paolo Gomez but the squad got a big lift from Relzbach president Bobby Bachmann, Alaska assistant pro basketball team manager Dickie Bachmann, Hayden Kho, Vicki Belo and Marilen Montenegro. Dickie Bachmann, Kho and Belo won five of six sets in three matches, pushing Team Gola up the ladder to fend off Team Asics.

It came down to the crucial showdown between Team Gola and Team Asics. Montenegro got Team Gola off to a hot start, blanking Team Asics’ Phoem Baranda, 11-8, 11-4. Then, Belo played Team Asics’ Menchu Henson to a split, 11-3, 6-11. Team Asics’ Anthony Suntay also settled for a split with Kho, 10-11, 11-1, and Dickie Bachmann evened up with Team Asics’ Quinito Henson, 7-11, 11-6.

Bobby Bachmann took out Team Asics’ Franco Limjuco, 11-6, 11-7, before Team Asics’ top seed Duane Santos repulsed Gomez, 11-7, 11-8.

Santos and Team Speedo’s Angel Jacob emerged the tournament’s only unbeaten players, scoring a perfect 66 points in three matches. Santos turned back Gomez, Team Head’s Gil Coscolluela, 11-6, 11-4, and Team Speedo’s Manish Mahtani, 11-9, 11-9. Jacob beat Montenegro, 11-9, 11-9, Team Head’s Grace Molina, 11-4, 11-4, and Baranda, 11-7, 11-1. Team Asics’ Menchu Henson won five of six sets to join Dickie Bachmann, Kho and Belo in the honor roll.

Fashion icon and SRAP board member Tweetie de Leon-Gonzalez organized the event backed by sponsors Greenfield Development Corp., Nestle, Asics, Pond’s, Speedo, Head, Gola, Crocs, Powerade, Karakal, Fresh Papaya Soap, Jewelmer and the Manila Polo Club. SRAP president Romy Ribano and board members Jovy Vilar, Boyong Deles and Allan Tantoco attended the affair which was covered by GMA-TV’s “Game” and Solar Sports.

During the awarding rites, Ribano announced that Singapore squash legend Zainal Abidin will be in town this week for talks with the SRAP regarding the construction and operation of two public courts at the Rizal Memorial Complex. Abidin is a six-time East Asian and two-time Japan Open champion. Ribano said he will also seek Abidin’s advice on a program to promote the game in the country. 

“We are grateful to the Philippine Sports Commission and chairman Richie Garcia for supporting the plan to put up two public squash courts at the Rizal Memorial,” said Ribano, referring to the P7 Million project. “We hope to get the construction blueprints by this week from Doni Altura of the SKI Group then we’ll present the papers to the PSC for approval. Before the year ends, we hope to inaugurate the courts with an exhibition match featuring the world’s No. 1 female player Nicole David of Malaysia.”

Claiming third place in the celebrity tournament was Team Speedo made up of Mahtani, world-renowned photographer Gutsy Tuazon, Dicky Alikpala, Teddy Dario, Tessa Prieto-Valdes and Jacob. Rounding up the cast was Team Head composed of Molina, Mara de la Rama Poblete, Miguel Azcuna, former Rep. Gilbert Remulla, Ernie Lopez and Coscolluela. 

Asics marketing manager Maricris de Guia, fashion model Apples Aberin, Hans Montenegro, newly elected Palms Country Club squash committee chairman Dondi Verano, national squash coach Jaime Ortua and broadcaster Reema Chanco were among the guests in the event.  Tournament director was six-time Southeast Asian Games squash bronze medalist Edgar Balleber.

Final standings:  Team Gola – 23 sets, 349 points (Paolo Gomez, Bobby Bachmann, Dickie Bachmann, Hayden Kho, Vicki Belo, Marilen Montenegro). Team Asics – 21 sets, 332 points (Duane Santos, Franco Limjuco, Quinito Henson, Anthony Suntay, Menchu Henson, Phoem Baranda). Team Speedo – 20 sets, 306 points (Manish Mahtani, Gutsy Tuazon, Dicky Alikpala, Teddy Dario, Tessa Prieto-Valdes, Angel Jacob). Team Head – 8 sets, 241 points (Gil Coscolluela, Ernie Lopez, Gilbert Remulla, Miguel Azcuna, Mara de la Rama Poblete, Grace Molina).