Alcantara, new partner in ITF finals

Francis Casey Alcantara and American partner Collin Altamirano bounced back from first set loss on Thursday to beat the second-seeded Australian pair of Maverick Banes and Blake Ellis, 5-7, 7-5, (10-7) and make the men’s doubles finals of the ITF Singapore Futures 2.

Partnering for the first time, Alcantara-Altamirano stayed focused despite the opening set tumble and marched on to face either No.1-ranked Shintaro Imai and Niki Takuto of Japan or Aussies Jacob Grills and Michael Look for the championship at Kallang Tennis Center.

“Finally,” the 26-year-old Alcantara told the Inquirer as he played in his first-ever ITF final. Alcantara is the first and only Filipino with a Grand Slam title. —MARC ANTHONY REYES