Alcantara, Lim gain third round

Davis Cupper Francis Casey Alcantara and top junior netter Alberto Lim Jr. dispatched their respective rivals to barge into the third round of the 34th Philippine Columbian Association (PCA) Open-Cebuna Lhuillier Wildcard Event at the PCA claycourts in Paco, Manila.

Alcantara, seeded seventh in the tournament, clobbered Carlo Nono, 8-2, while fourth-ranked Lim blanked Rodolfo Barquin, 8-0.

“Maganda naman ang start ko. Kinakapa ko pa yung court pero so far, okay naman,” said the 23year-old Alcantara, who won the Australian Open junior doubles title in 2010.

The win arranged Alcantara a meeting with Joel Atienza, who swept Santino Vistan, 8-0, while Lim set up a date with Jimmy Tangalin, an 8-3 winner over Al Michael Madrio.

The usual three-set format will be applied in the third round of the event sponsored by Cebuana Lhuillier, Puma, Dunlop, Head, Babolat, Compass/IMOSTI and Saranggani Rep. Manny Pacquiao.

Other seeded netters who also advanced to the next phase were sixth seed Marc Anthony Alcoseba, an 8-4 winner over Harry Caron; eighth pick Ronard Joven, who won over Jose Nicholas Cano, 8-3; No. 10 Fritz Verdad, an 8-1 winner over Joaquin Paras; and No. 12 Ruel Capangpangan, an 80 winner over Marraphael Teng.

A total of ₱172,000 cash prize is at stake in the tournament with the men’s singles champion taking hom ₱50,000 and the runnerup pocketing ₱20,000.

Women’s champion will get ₱20,000 while the runner-up will receive ₱10,000.

(Bob Dungo Jr.) LORAINE Barola makes a double-fisted return against Aimea Lou Rosales during the PCA Open at the Philippine Columbian Association Plaza Dilao, Paco.