Rising netters thwart foes in Mariposa Foundation Cup

MANILA—The country’s rising tennis stars Albert Lim Jr., and Isabella Orteza turned back their respective foes to barge into the finals of the boys and girls singles of the Mariposa Foundation Cup at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

The 12-year-old Lim, the top seed here and winner of the recent Pacific Coast tennis 14-under championships in Los Angeles, brought down Korean third seed Park Ji-hun, 6-1, 6-4, to move to the finals of the event presented by the Philippine Tennis Academy and ATF 14-under series.

The stocky but quick-footed Lim was hardly in danger against the taller Park, who found no antidote to the Filipino’s attacking game. Standing in his way to the title is another Korean, Yun Seong Chung, who routed Filipino Dante Villasenor, 6-1, 6-1, in the other boys semifinals.

Orteza, the second seed in girls  singles, marched to the final after disposing of compatriots Erika Manduriao, 6-1, 6-3. The 14-year-old freshman from La Salle-Zobel and youngest of a brood of four tennis-playing daughters will face Korean Soomin Kim in the final.

Kim downed Japanese Ri Sumire, 6-2, 6-2, in the other semis.

Lim and Orteza are counted upon to banner the Philippines in the coming ATF 14-under championships, and are regarded as the best local age-group players in the country.

ATF ranking points are at stake in the event sponsored by the PTA and supported by ATP Head officials balls.

The singles finals will be played today starting at 10:30 a.m. with the winners earning 300 ATF points. Runners-up will get 200 points while the third and fourth placers will receive 150 and 120 points, respectively.