Casey makes final vs Belgian

MANILA, Philippines - Top seed Francis Casey Alcantara moved in the threshold of a second straight championship in the Phinma International Juniors tennis tournament, surviving an opening set scare before dominating No. 8 Japanese Kaichi Uchida for a 7-5, 6-0 win at the Rizal Memorial Tennis Center yesterday.

In contrast, Jeroen Vanneste of Belgium needed three sets to subdue Daniel Skripnik of Israel, 6-4, 5-7, 6-4, and arrange a title showdown with Alcantara, who scored a similar 7-5, 6-0 triumph over Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan, 7-5, 6-0, to claim the Week 1 crown last Sunday.

The 17-year-old Alcantara unloaded a variety of shots in the second frame to baffle Vanneste, who fought back from an opening set loss to beat Nishioka, 1-6, 7-5, 6-0, and set up a semis duel with the Filipino champion.

But Vanneste, 15, fell short of his upset bid against Alcantara, who bucked his rival’s tough game in the first set before holding serve in the 11th game and then breaking in the next to essay the hard-earned win.

It was smooth sailing in the second set as Alcantara displayed superb all around game to fashion out the one-hour, 22-minute victory in the tournament sponsored by Phinma Group of Companies.

Leander Lazaro and Kim Saraza also hurdled the Australian pair of Nathan Lemke and Jack Schipanski, 6-4, 6-4, in the boys’ doubles semis to remain on track of a sweep bid by the Filipino bets.