Lim clinches Ajay Pathak Memorial Cup

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed Alberto Lim Jr. turned what was expected to be a tight battle into a runaway triumph as he dominated Thai Vorachoin Rakpuangchon, 6-2, 6-2, to capture the Ajay Pathak Memorial Cup ITF 14-Under Developmental Championship Division I at the Rizal Tennis Center yesterday.

The 13-year-old Lim, who trounced fifth seed Parikshit Somani of India, 6-0, 6-1, in Friday’s semifinals, dished out a superb all-around game to overwhelm Rakpuangchon, who advanced via a 6-2, 6-1 rout of No. 3 Sou Ming Chur of Hong Kong, to cap his impressive stint in the week-long event put up by the ITF Grand Slam Development Fund and the Philippine Tennis Academy.

The back-to-back NCAA juniors singles champion, who also powered Letran to the team championship, thus gained 450 ranking points.

“I really feel good about myself because I know I’ve developed and improved a lot since I won a juniors title late last year,” said Lim, referring to his triumph in the Phinma ITF Juniors tilt in November last year, in Filipino.

It was Lim’s first victory in the ITF meet with the ace junior, who trains under Manny Tecson, completing his romp without dropping a single set.

Lim, who drew a first round bye, also blasted Jiang Xingsheng of China, 6-1, 6-0, in the second round, and No. 7 Charles Roberts of Thailand, 6-2, 6-2, in the quarterfinals.

Lim also dedicated his victory to Tecson.

“I really wanted to win here because my coach (Tecson) told me we’re not joining here to just get experience, but to win and I’m glad I didn’t disappoint him,” he said.

Lim goes for a sweep as he headlines the field in the second week of the event supported by the Philippine Sports Commission, Technifibre Balls, Wilkins, Mariposa Foundation, Cebuana Lhuillier, Chowking and Trans Asia Corp. 

“We don’t know if there are new participants but I’m looking at another victory in the second week,” said Lim.

The ITF tournaments also serve as part of Lim’s buildup for the Mitsubishi International Juniors Tennis Championships set to fire off March 19.

In women’s play, No. 7 Himani Mor of India, riding the crest of a shock 6-3, 6-2 upset of top seed Tang Yutong of China in the semis, overcame No. 6 Ren Jiaqi of China, 6-4, 4-6, 6-1, to clinch the girls crown.