Alcantara enters final vs Korean

Top seed Filipino Francis Casey Alcantara overpowered compatriot Jeson Patrombon, 6-4, 6-4, Friday to reach the boys’ singles final in the Phinma International Juniors Tennis Championship Week 1 at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center.

Alcantara, a native of Cagayan de Oro City, used a variety of shots to pull off the win that set him up against qualifier Sangmin Park, who eliminated fifth seed and fellow Korean Yong-Jae Kwon, 6-4, 6-3.

Park, ranked No. 993, is on his first year in the junior circuit. He played six tournaments in New Zealand and four in South Korea before coming to the Philippines.

In the girls singles, top seed Luksika Kumkhum of Thailand lived up to her billing, thrashing fourth seed Alisa Ogorodova, 6-1, 6-2, to advance to the championship round of the event supported by Wilson balls, Viva Mineral Water and Powerade.

The world’s No. 203 Kumkhum, winner of three titles in Pakistan last October and one in Indonesia three weeks ago, will meet qualifier Yang Zhaoxuan of China, who stunned No. 8 Kobkanok Upapong of Thailand, 6-4, 6-1.

Yang, 13, is playing in her first tournament outside China.