Pantino tops Nat'l Open as Lim retires

Arthur Craig Pantino clawed his way back from the brink of defeat to stun top seed AJ Lim in a dramatic finale to the Gentry National Tennis Open Championship, scoring a gutsy 2-6, 5-7, 6-4, 3-1(ret.) victory Sunday at the Colegio San Agustin courts in San Jose del Monte, Bulacan.

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Pantino's triumph was a testament to his grit and endurance.

Facing a red-hot Lim, who entered the finals on a dominant run and had previously defeated him in the quarterfinals of the recent PCA Open, Pantino refused to fold, digging deep after falling behind two sets and weathering the storm against the favored champion.