Camille Naredo

Article (news)

Tennis

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

MANILA -- Filipino-American Christopher Papa battled to a 6-4, 6-4 win over Philippines No. 1 Alberto Lim Jr. to rule the Palawan Open, Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.&quot;It was tough,&quot; Papa said after the match. &quot;I struggled to get into rallies. He was dictating most of the time and I was just surviving. I just kind of survived and took the chances I was able to get.&quot;This was Papa&#x27;s first time to play in Manila, and he was thrilled by the &quot;amazing&quot; experience.&quot;It&#x27;s my first time playing for a crowd this big,&quot; he revealed. &quot;It&#x27;s an honor. I&#x27;m super glad to be here, super grateful.&quot;Papa was especially thankful for local tennis icon Francis Alcantara, calling him a &quot;kuya.&quot; They had met just three weeks ago in Thailand, with Alcantara revealing that he did not know Papa was half-Filipino.&quot;When I found out … We got close and I invited him here,&quot; Alcantara said. &quot;Everything went well and I&#x27;m so happy for him.&quot;Alcantara and Papa took home the doubles crown in the Palawan Open.&quot;Honestly I felt connected and we clicked very well,&quot; said Papa. &quot;I&#x27;m excited to play more professional tennis with him and see how good we can do— hopefully play together for the Philippines and see how far we can take it.&quot;For the semis, Papa defeated top seed Digvijay Singh in a gritty 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(4) match. Meanwhile, Lim advanced by beating third seed and national No. 2 Eric Olivarez Jr., 6-1, 6-3.

Filipino-American Christopher Papa battled to a 6-4, 6-4 win over Philippines No. 1 Alberto Lim Jr. to rule the Palawan Open, Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Filipino-American Christopher Papa battled to a 6-4, 6-4 win over Philippines No. 1 Alberto Lim Jr. to rule the Palawan Open, Sunday at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Tennis: Fil-Am Christopher Papa beats Lim for Palawan Open title

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Tennis: Fil-Am Christopher Papa beats Lim for Palawan Open title

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 01, 2026 01:23 PM PHT

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tennis

Palawan Open

Christopher Papa

Alberto Lim Jr.

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