Alberto Lim Jr. displayed the strength and skill worthy of a former national team stalwart to claim his third straight men’s singles title over the weekend.
On Sunday, he pulled the rug from under top seed Jose Maria Pague, 6-3, 6-4, in the finals of the Gov. Franklin Bautista National Tennis Championship at the Malita Tennis Court in Davao Occidental.
But the 24-year-old former UE standout failed to complete a sweep as he and Lance Fernandez bowed to the top-ranked pair of Josshua Kinaadman and Eric Olivarez, 4-6, 3-6, in the men’s doubles.
The Group A tournament was sponsored by Gov. Franklin Bautista and held in conjunction with the Araw ng Davao Occidental celebrations.
On his way to the championship, Lim rammed past juniors campaigner Randy Pausanos, 6-0, 6-0; Fernandez, 6-1, 6-2; Eric Tangub, 6-2, 6-2; before repulsing No. 2 Kinaadman, 6-3, 7-5, in the semis.
Pague, on the other hand, outlasted Olivarez in the semis, 6-4, 2-6, 6-3, but came up short in the finals, yielding to Lim’s aggressive play.
Third seed Chelsea Bernaldez completed a sweep by the Tagum City bets as she stunned No. 1 AJ Acabo, 6-4, 0-6, 10-8, in the semis then blasted Jasmen Kadalum, 6-2, 6-2, to capture the women’s crown.
Lim nailed his third straight championship after a two-year hiatus due to illness. He returned to competitive play in the Brookside Open last April and topped the Olivarez Cup last August. He also reigned in the Alturas Bohol Cup last month.
His latest feat netted him P100,000, doubling his winnings at Olivarez while gaining ranking points in his continuing effort to reach the top of the ladder.
