ALBERTO Lim Jr. reaffirmed his supremacy over rival Eric Jed Olivarez, grinding out a tense-filled opening set before pulling away in the second to hack out a 7-5, 6-2 victory and clinch the Mayor Benedict Calderon Cup National Open Tennis Championship singles crown at the Lado del Rio Resort and Roxas Tennis Club in Roxas, Isabela last Tuesday.
The 26-year-old former junior standout, who also drubbed Olivarez for the Iloilo National Open last April, was in top form all week, cruising past Martelino Ezio, 6-0, 2-2 (ret.) in the opening round, dismantling Pablo Gonzaga, 6-0, 6-1, and Nilo Ledama, 6-2, 6-0, before advancing to the final with a 6-0, 2-0 (ret.) win over Vicente Anasta in the semifinals.
Olivarez, who was seeking payback after his Iloilo setback, earned his spot in the finals with commanding wins over Raven Matias (6-1, 6-1), Philippe Coteron (6-3, 6-0), and Noel Salupado (6-2, 6-1), before surviving a scare from John Benedict Aguilar in a grueling 6-2, 6-7, 6-4 semis duel.
But Lim proved too steady in their title clash, weathering Olivarez’s aggressive shot-making in a tight opening set, then shifting into high gear in the second to secure another Open crown in the event staged as part of the 77th Araw ng Roxas celebrations and geared towards enhancing grassroots tennis in the country amid the continued rise of Filipino tennis star Alex Eala.
Olivarez, however, gained a measure of revenge in the men’s doubles finals, teaming up with Vicente Anasta to upend Lim and Lance Fernandez in a pulsating 6-7(6), 6-4, 10-8 decision that denied Lim a sweep of the tournament sponsored by Mayor Benedict Calderon and supported by the Palawan Pawnshop tennis circuit, led by president/CEO Bobby Castro.
