Lim, Capadocia top Palawan-Cainta Open

MANILA, Philippines - Alberto Lim Jr. pulled off a shock 3-6, 6-1, 6-4 victory over top seed Vicente Anasta to annex the men’s singles crown while Marian Capadocia dominated Clarice Patrimonio, 6-1, 6-1, to nail the ladies title in the One Cainta Open Tennis Championship at the Brookside Hills Tennis Club in Cainta last week.

Lim went back to his old, tested forehand strokes to turn back Anasta although the 14-year-old find needed to shake off a wobbly first set stint to turn back Anasta and emerge the youngest winner of this annual tournament presented by Palawan Pawnshop Palawan Express Pera Padala which drew the country’s elite players.

“I was able to regain my old form after my Dad made some fine-tuning on my forehand stroke which my foreign coach adjusted during my stint in the Mitsubishi Juniors last week,” said Lim in Pilipino. “Now I’m playing with more confidence.”

“With the help of Palawan Pawnshop, the Municipality of Cainta is all-out in supporting and sponsoring this annual tournament. Lim’s victory also underscored the event’s goal of producing a new of breed of players for future national teams,” said Cainta Mayor Kit Nieto.

Lim actually struggled in the early going, yielding the first three games but bounced back strong in the second frame behind a series of forehand crosscourt winners. He then broke Anasta in the seventh game of the decider to shatter a 3-3 count then held serve en route to wrapping up the grueling match in two hours and 38 minutes.

Capadocia, on the other hand, overpowered Patrimonio all game to cruise to the one-sided victory then the duo teamed up to defeat Edilyn Balanga and Marinel Rudas for the ladies doubles diadem.

Anasta, meanwhile, redeemed himself in the doubles as he partnered with Mark Alcoseba to beat the Ronard Joven-Leander Lazaro pair.

“Palawan Pawnshop has been at the forefront of tennis development in the country. Through our nationwide age group circuit and elite Open tournaments, we believe that we can discover, tap and develop players who could be trained for future national teams,” said Palawan Pawnshop COO Bobby Castro.