After last year’s success, the team captained by Clint Cassar made it once again to the final and managed to seize the title as champions in this year’s San Michel team tournament organised by the Tennis Club Kordin.

The tournament, sponsored by Farsons with its product San Michel table water, came to a close recently with a thrilling final which left the significant number of club members present to witness it on edge till the very last minutes.

The final between the two teams captained by Clint Cassar and Stephen Bellli respectively kicked off with two C category matches namely the Ladies and the Men’s doubles.

These two matches both ended in a draw leaving the courts for the next two matches, those played by the Mixed A and Mixed B players. Clint Cassar’s players got the best of their opponents by winning two points for their team in the A category and achieved a draw in the B category, which gave Cassar’s team a good advantage over the opponents.

Cassar’s team continued its positive trail obtaining a good win in the Men B game while Belli’s Ladies in the B category fought back with an impressive win keeping their team in the running. At this stage Cassar’s team was leading with two points.

The supporters’ encouragement to their respective team members was exhilarating and the atmosphere during this magnificent final was superb.

The final was down to the last two matches; those being played by the Men A and Ladies A. The Ladies couple playing for Belli’s team Christine Schembri and Lucienne Meli Bellizzi played an overwhelmingly good first set winning it 6-1 against their opponents Leanne Schembri and Carmen Elden while Esther Muscat and Marc Vella Bonnici were leading the first set by four games to one against Suniel Balani and Martin Zammit.

The set however wasn’t over yet as Muscat/Vella Bonnici extended their lead to 5-2 but could not close the set giving a chance for Balani/Zammit to make a good come back by winning the set 7-5.

It was a surprise for everyone present that the second set of the Ladies A game was won by Cassar’s team consequently sealing the tournament win for the latter.

The extremely supportive crowd was certainly pleased with the nail biting climax this year’s tournament final had to offer.

Without any doubt, Clint Cassar’s team was very consistent throughout the whole tournament while Stephen Belli’s team was a very strong one, showing great fighting spirit on their way to the final and giving the opponents a very hard time to win.

Special thanks went to Benedict Vidal, director of the tournament, and Judith Ricci, who was of great help with the running of the tournament.

The presentation of trophies for the San Michel team tournament is being held at the Tennis Club Kordin on 23 July.