Lim stuns Tierro, snatches PCA title

MANILA, Philippines - AJ Lim downed top seed defending champioin PJ Tierro, 6-3, 7-6 (5) yesterday to become the youngest winner of the Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open-Cebuana Lhuillier Wildcard Event at the PCA’s Plaza Dilao claycourt.

Lim, who turned 16 last May, stunned Tierro in the opening set then wore down the veteran campaigner in the tiebreaker of the second to complete the straight-set victory for his first-ever PCA championship.

“I just gave it all I got,” said the fourth-ranked Lim, who eclipsed the 1982 feat of Manny Tolentino by a couple of months. He pocketed P50,000.

It was also Lim’s fourth title of the year since topping the India ITF Junior 1 and Delhi ITF Juniors last January and the China Junior 14 in Nanjing last August.

Lim, along with Tierro, also clinched wildcard berths in the main draw of the second leg of the $15,000 Philippine International Tennis Federation Futures tournament starting Oct. 6.Earlier, Clarice Patrimonio lived up to her top billing as she overwhelmed youthful Maia Balce, 6-4, 6-3, to likewise nail her first crown after a pair of runner-up finishes in 2011 and 2013 in the annual event.

Patrimonio, who won P20,000  for her feat,  also avenged her elder sister Christine’s 6-7 (3), 3-6 setback to Balce in the semis.

The reigning UAAP MVP also won the ladies doubles title in partnership with Shaira River, downing Marinel Rudas and Edilyn Balanga, 6-4, 4-6, 7-6 (2), last Friday.