Alberto Lim Jr. survived two matches in a day despite a bum stomach to reach the third round Wednesday in the rain-disrupted Tugu Muda Cup international junior tennis championships in Manahan, Indonesia.
The third-seeded Lim proved his mettle by downing a local entry and a 6-foot-2 Chinese-Taipei ace to advance in the Grade 4 event.
Lim, at 14 the brightest prospect in the Tennis Academy of the Philippines Foundation, had an easy time disposing of Indonesian Dhimas Rivai Argananta, 6-1, 6-1, in the morning and then hacked out a 6-4, 7-5 triumph over the towering Liu Shao-fan.
Coach Manny Tecson paid tribute to the “mental toughness” of Lim, who relied on rehydration fluids to recover his strength.
Lim will next battle Taiwanese Ko Shao-min, who ousted Thai Pattanapong Borisutpong, 3-6, 6-1, 6-0.
Eric Olivarez Jr., the other Filipino in the event, slipped past Indonesia’s Hensya Rusmiputro, 6-2, 2-6, 6-2, in his opening match but lost to local campaigner Mohammed Rizky Widianto, 6-4, 6-1, in his next outing. Marc Anthony Reyes