Tennis rising star gets backing from POC, PSC

MANILA, Philippines - Believing Albert “AJ” Lim Jr. has a great potential to become a big star in tennis someday, the Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) and the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) have thrown their all-out support to the campaign of the top junior player – here and abroad.

The first Filipino finalist in the tough Orange Bowl Championships in Florida, United States, the power-hitting Lim, who just turned 14 last May 13, will be under the care of POC and PSC until 2018, thus giving him the privilege to compete in as many foreign tournaments he wants.

“It’s great honor to be given this kind of support that’s why I’m so thankful to POC president Jose “Peping” Cojuangco and PSC chair Richie Garcia. I’ll try my best to live up to their expectations,” said Lim.

Unbeatable in the NCAA juniors division, Lim won a second straight MVP plum for helping Letran keep its team title.

At 13, he was the youngest ITF Phinma champion and also the youngest ever ranked at 273 in the ITF Junior.

He also emerged back-to-back champion in the Ajay Pathak ATF-ITF tournaments – victories that validated his status as one of the country’s rising stars.

Ranked No. 1 in both the16-year and 14-year divisions, Lim, who is also being supported by former Cong. Romy Jalosjos, starts his ITF campaign with two tournaments in Indonesia starting on June 9. He is also scheduled to compete in the Edeheir Cup in November and the Orange Bowl in December.

He lost to many-time PCA Open champion Johnny Arcilla in the third round of the Philippine National Games recently but not after giving him a big scare, 1-6, 6-1, 10-4.