Lim, seven others battle for Masters crown

MANILA, Philippines —  The best and brightest of local tennis are slugging it out in the Philta Men’s Masters Top 8 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center, with pride, prize money and national ranking on the line.

At the center of it all is Alberto Lim Jr., up against Noel Salupado, John Kendrick Bona, Nilo Ledama, Eric Jed Olivarez, Vicente Anasta, Ronard Joven and Fritz Verdad.

Lim opened his campaign against Salupado Wednesday then Bona last night. And he’s to play Ledama at 6 p.m. tonight in group play.

Under the tournament format, the eight players are divided into two groups, each playing a single round robin. The top two from each pool advance to crossover semifinals, with the winners disputing the championship and the top P160,000 purse in a winner-take-all finale.

The Masters is being played under the klieg lights, with matches held nightly starting at 6 p.m.