Lim sets up PCA Open title duel vs Tierro

MANILA, Philippines -- Youthful AJ Lim slew veteran Johnny Arcilla, 7-5, 4-6, 6-1, Friday to arrange a title showdown with defending champion PJ Tierro in the 34th Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open-Cebuana Lhuillier Wildcard Event at the PCA's Plaza Dilao clay courts in Paco, Manila.

Lim, 16, played with a lot of poise and maturity for a player still finding his way in the local and international scenes as he took down a veteran player like Arcilla, almost twice his age at 35 years and who had won an unprecedented eight titles on this same annual tournament.

Lim's composure was evident in the third and deciding set when, after Arcilla snatched the second set when got lost a bit to knot it at one set apiece, he outplayed the former with his powerful forehand winners and solid baseline game.

"I just came into our match with a mindset of just focusing on what I can do. In the first set I played calm but I lost my concentration in the second set," said Lim, who has been campigning in the world circuit to get the needed experience.

"I'm happy I regained by composure in the third set, which really helped me a lot," he added.

The win set Lim against Tierro, who made a free entry to the finals after Enebert Anasta forfeited his game due to personal reasons.

Tierro will be gunning for a second straight title after beating Arcilla last year.

But the 30-year-old veteran Davis Cupper knows he needs to put the pressure on Lim to accomplish it.

"He (Lim) has improved a lot from the last time I saw him play. I need to play harder to beat him. I expect a tough match," said Tierro.

Lim's victory over Arcilla was sweet as he avenged his loss to the latter in this same event last year in the quarterfinals when he got injured trailing 0-4 in the first set.

"I try to learn from my losses and past experiences and try to improve each game," said Lim, who won in the India ITF Junior 1 and Delhi ITF Juniors in January and China Junior 14 in Nanjing in August this year.

The win also came a day after he shocked former Australian Open juniors doubles champion Francis Casey Alcantara in Thursday's quarterfinals of this event supported by Cebuana Lhuillier, Puma, Dunlop, The Philippine Star, Head, Babolat, Compass/IMOSTI and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao.

For making the finals, Lim and Tierro gained automatic berths to the main draw of the 2015 Manila Internartional Tennis Federation Men's Futures Leg 2 unfolding on Oct. 13 at the same venue.

As for Arcilla, Anasta and the other losing quarterfinalists, they had earned a spot in the qualifying round of the ITF event.

Meanwhile, sisters Christine and Clarice Patrimonio try to arrange a title showdown as the two face off with Maia Balce and Edilyn Balanga, respectively, today in this meet supported by Whilpool/Fujidenzo, Broadway Motor Sales Corp. Coca-Cola Femsa Philippines, Tyrecorp Incorporated, Pearl Garden Hotel, Metro Global Holdings Corporation, Avida, PVL Restaurant, Mary Grace Foods, Inc., Seno Hardware and Wire Rope Corporation.