Eala setting sights on historic gold

NONTHABURI, Thailand — Alex Eala is determined to end the Philippines’ 26-year gold medal drought in the Southeast Asian Games women’s singles play.

The world No. 52-ranked Eala is set to face home bet Manachaya Sawangkaew in the finals today at the National Tennis Development Centre here.

Opening serve is at 11 a.m. (Manila time).

The 20-year-old netter advanced to the gold medal round after eliminating another Thai opponent Thasaporn Naklo, 6-1, 6-4, in the semifinals last Tuesday.

The top-seeded Eala is the first Filipina to reach the finals after Anna Clarice Patrimonio’s runner-up finish in the 2017 Kuala Lumpur edition.

Eala is looking to become the country’s third women’s singles division champion after Pia Tamayo during the 1981 Manila Games and Maricris Fernandez-Gentz in the 1999 Bandar Seri Begawan edition, six years before this generation’s celebrated Pinay tennis star was born.

The 5-foot-9 Eala is extra motivated to claim gold after falling short of advancing in the finals of the mixed doubles on Wednesday morning.

Eala and partner Niño Alcantara failed to complete their comeback in the deciding third set tiebreak, falling victim to home bets Pawit Sornlaksup and Patcharin Cheapchandej, 7-5, 5-7, 7-10.

During the tiebreak, Eala and Alcantara found themselves in a 4-7 hole early.

The pair clawed its way back and knotted the count at 7. However, a crucial double fault from Alcantara gave the Thais enough breathing room and match point advantage, 9-7, which they converted.

“You know, obviously, initial feelings is of disappointment. Just, you know, when you lose and you give your all, but no regrets. And I think both Kuya Nins (Alcantara) and I, we did everything we could.” Eala said.

“In the end, doubles is really, you know, could be a game of chance. And I think our opponents played really well. So, I’m happy with the effort we put in.”

Eala and Alcantara also won bronze in the same event in the 2022 edition of the SEA Games in Vietnam.