Seno-Lim Jr. duo bags doubles title

Cebu’s Jan Godfrey Seno ended his stint in the Phase 1 of the Ajay Pathak Memorial Cup ITF 14-Under Developmental Championship Division 1 with the doubles title in the main draw at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Seno, who is being supported by the Bogo City government, teamed up with the Philippines No.1 14-Under player Albert Lim Jr. to wrest the doubles title from the Korean pair of Kim Hyun Joo and Kim Jae Woo, 6-3, 7-5.

The Philippine duo advanced into the final round with a 6-3, 6-3 outsmarting of India in the semifinals and a 6-2, 6-3 lambasting of Hong Kong in the quarters.

In the singles division, Seno finished his campaign with three wins and two loses in the consolation/losers’ bracket.

Being a developmental tournament, players who lose in the main draw are still allowed to play in the consolation/losers’ bracket so they can still earn ITF points.

Seno missed out on the consolation/losers’ title after he bowed to a Korean, 1-6, 2-6.

The University of San Carlos netter grabbed a finals ticket after dismissing a United Arab Emirates netter, 6-1, 6-1, in the semifinals. In the quarterfinals, the 13-year-old netter dispatched an Uzbekistan player, 6-0, 6-1.

Some 16 countries, represented by their top 5 U-14 players, are seeing action in this tournament, which will enter Phase 2 next week following the same format.

Seno finished in the No.11 spot while fellow Cebuano Arthur Craig “Igi” Diaz Pantino is at No. 18 with two wins and three loses.

Lim took the top spot after taking the singles crown in the main draw.

In his first international tournament, Seno is the second highest ranked Filipino followed by Pantino then Jerome Romualdez at No. 20 and John Brian Otico at No. 21.

Meanwhile, Seno will also be vying for Boys U-14 title today in another tournament—the 3rd Olivarez Age Group tournament in Paranaque.