Alcantara, Otico rule overseas

Francis Casey Alcantara captured his fourth ITF Futures doubles title in a row—this time with India’s Karunuday Singh—in Hong Kong over the weekend.

Alcantara and Karunuday outlasted Japanese pair Yuki Mochisuki and Tomohiro Masabayashi, 6-3, 4-6 (11-9), for the 25-year-old Filipino’s fourth title in as many tournaments.

“I didn’t play my best tennis but my partner was there to back me up,” said the Cagayan de Oro native.

He and Karunuday will compete in two more Futures meets, also in HK, before embarking in the tough Belgium tour.

In Thailand, Bryan Otico bolstered his bid to compete in the US Open after topping the recent PTT-ITF junior championships in Nonthaburi.

On his last year in junior competitions, Otico crushed Indian Sharrma Sacchit, 6-2, 6-1, in the Grade 4 event.—MARC REYES