BENICIA HIGH’S boys tennis team heads into the postseason as SCAC champions. Pictured are (from left) assistant coach Rich Taylor, Emad Abdul-Wajid, Brian Hung, Nate Tabtab, Aidan McAninch, Nick Menjibar, Anders Knutstad, Rajon Bhatia, Andrew Butawan and head coach Joe Perrin.

Benicia High’s Nate Tabtab won the boys singles title and also earned Most Valuable Player honors at the Solano County Athletic Conference Tennis Championships at the Millennium Club in Vacaville.

Tabtab rallied to beat teammate Rajan Bhatia in the finals, 4-6, 6-4, 7-5. Tabtab, who finished five points ahead of Bhatia for the MVP award, won in straight sets over Bethel’s Justin Booth, Benicia’s Anders Knutstad and Vanden’s Joseph Brooks to reach the finals. Bhatia also won three matches in straight sets.

Tabtab, Bhatia and Alex Valenica were each named All-SCAC. Teammates Knutstad, Aidan McAninch, Emad Abdul-Wajid and Andrew Butawan were Honorable Mentions.

Butawan and Abdul-Wajid made it to the semifinals of the doubles tournament before losing 4-6, 6-3, 10-5 to eventual champions Brooks and Leonard Hsiung of Vanden.

Tabtab and Bhatia will represent the Panthers at the Sac-Joaquin Section Division II Individual Tournament beginning May 7 at Johnson Ranch Racquet Club in Roseville. Benicia as a team will host a quarterfinal match next Tuesday in the SJS Division II Team Tournament.

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