Lopez-Perez down Japanese foe, clinches PCA singles title

MANILA, Philippines -- Spaniard Enrique Lopez-Perez lived up to his top billing as he downed third seed Kento Takeuchi  of Japan, 7-6 (4), 6-4, yesterday to clinch the singles' title in the 34th Philippine Columbian Association Open-Cebuana Lhuillier ITF Men’s Futures 2 Sunday at the PCA's Plaza Dilao clay courts in Paco, Manila.

The power-hitting Lopez-Perez, who is the highest ranked here at 378th in the world, relied on his solid baseline game and his superb court coverage to make up for his faulty serving that resulted to several double faults in securing his second ITF title of the year after his win in Chandigarh, India last March.

The win also avenged the 24-year-old Lopez-Perez's to Takeuchi, a 6-2, 1-6, 4-6 semifinal defeat that sent the former packing in the Manila ITF Men's Futures 1 at the Valle Verde Country Club in Pasig City.

"I lost my confidence because of the double faults," said Lopez-Perez. "Good thing I decided to play my game and let him (Takeuchi) chase balls."

Lopez-Perez also said the surface helped him more than Takeuchi.

"He likes hard courts better than clay courts, that helped me too," he said.

For his feat, Lopez-Perez took home $2,160 while Takeuchi consoled himself of his runner-up purse worth $1,272 in the tournament supported by Cebuana Lhuillier, Puma, Dunlop, The Philippine Star, Head, Babolat, Compass/IMOSTI and Sarangani Rep. Manny Pacquiao.

The day before, local standouts Francis Casey Alcantara and eight-time PCA Open titlist Johnny Arcilla took home the doubles crown  in the event sponsored by Whilpool/Fujidenzo, Broadway Motor Sales Corp. Coca-Cola Femsa Philippines, Tyrecorp Incorporated, Pearl Garden Hotel, Metro Global Holdings Corporation, Avida, PVL Restaurant, Mary Grace Foods, Inc., Seno Hardware and Wire Rope Corporation.

Cebuana Lhuillier President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier couldn’t have been happier at the turnout of the Manila ITF Men’s Futures 2, promising his unyielding support for the next edition of the tournament.

“This is just fantastic. To see our Filipino players do well with Francis and Johnny even winning the doubles title is more than we could ever ask for. Jeson is also making a name for himself in the singles event. That is why I look forward to supporting more tournaments of this magnitude in our quest to help our Filipino players improve their skills and world rankings,” said Lhuillier.