Lim captures 2 titles in Lanao del Norte netfest

BENEDICT LIM leveled up from a previous feat as he captured two titles on home turf while Marlyn Mesiona posted a victory and a runner-up finish in the Palawan Pawnshop-Palawan Express Pera Padala (PPP-PEPP) national junior tennis championships at the Lala and MCL courts in Lanao del Norte Tuesday.

The top-ranked Lim, 14, crushed Pete Bandala, 6-2, 6-2, in the finals to stamp his class in his age-group category that saw him yield just seven games in four matches then as second seed in 16-under play, he repelled No. 1 and doubles partner Kale Villamar, 6-3, 5-7, 10-6, to complete the twinkill after topping the 14-under and finishing runner-up in 16-U in the Tubod stop, also in Lanao del Norte, of the circuit two weeks ago. Mesiona, on the other hand, battled back from a set down to repulse Bato, Leyte’s Kate Imalay, 2-6, 6-1,

10-8, in the girls’ 16-under finals but the Sindangan, Zambo del Norte campaigner failed to match Lim’s two-title feat after yielding to Imalay, 6-2, 6-1, in the 14-under championship of the Group 2 tournament sponsored by Lala, Lanao del Norte Mayor Angel Yap and Vice Mayor Cesar Yap.

The Cargo Movers had hoped to net their 10th point on a Soltones net touch but Petro Gazz challenged and was later proved inconclusive, leading to a replay of the point.

Th at, however, led to another contested call a couple of plays later as F2 went for a net fault challenge on Soltones while going for a hit against Maraño.

But in replay, it showed the veteran F2 middle’s knee had touched the net first before Soltones could at landing. Petro Gazz moved at match point after contesting that Ivy Lacsina hit a shot at the front while she should have been at the backrow position.

At resumption, Soltones swiped a hit to dispatch the Cargo Movers.

The other winners in the event which served as part of the country’s longest-talent search put up by Palawan Pawnshop president and CEO Bobby Castro were Villamar from Kapatagan, Lanao del Norte, Muhammad Sarip from MSU, Marawi City, Yuree Madrona and Vienna Cagas, both from Oroquieta City, and local bet Anna Ragpala.

Villamar took the 14-under plum with a 6-4, 6-2 victory over Aljun Tizon; Sarip shocked top seed Vincent Aguilar, 6-0, 6-3, in boys’ 12-under; Madrona smothered Jacob Buhat, 4-0, 4-0, for the 10-unisex title; Cagas held off Gabrielle Bulado, 7-5, 6-2, for the girls’ 12-under diadem; and Ragpala stunned No. 1 Sanschena Francisco, 6-3, 7-5, for the girls’ 18-under trophy.

Lim actually came away with three titles as he teamed up with Villamar to beat James Yasores and Dave Sardual for the 18-under doubles plum, while Imalay and Francisco took the girls’ trophy over Ragpala and Cathlene Villondo.