Former UAAP Most Valuable Player AJ Lim opened the second day of the 30th Southeast Asian Games tennis tournament on a winning note for the Philippines, Monday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Complex.
The Tarlac native fended off the challenge of Singapore’s Shaheed Alam and took the win, 7-6, 6-4, to move into the quarterfinals of the men’s singles.
Lim had to come back in both sets down a game, 4-5, in the first set and 2-4 in the second, but the veteran internationalist was pleased to have the hometown crowd behind him.
“It is just me getting some energy from them because I feel like it helps a lot when you tried to push them and hyped them up. They give you strength and energy at the same time because they support you,” the 20-year-old said.
In the women’s singles, Clarice Patrimonio bowed out of medal contention after Vietnam’s Savanna Ly Nguyen pulled off a massive 6-2, 6-2, over the former in the quarterfinals of the women’s singles.
The two mixed doubles pairs of the country are into the last eight later on Monday, but have a heavy task of taking on the top-seeded squads from Indonesia and Thailand.
Denise Dy and Treat Huey take on the top-ranked tandem Aldila Sutjiadi and Christopher Rungkat of Indonesia. Meanwhile, Nino Alcantara and Khim Iglupas battles second-seeds Tamarine Tanasugarn and Sanchai Ratiwatana.
Jeson Patrombon already booked his place in the quarterfinals of the men’s singles match on Monday after a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Laos’ Sataporn Simmalavong.
