BANGKOK, Thailand — Alex Eala served as a ray of hope for Team Philippines approaching the closing stretch of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games here.

With a modest goal of replicating its fifth-place finish from two years ago, every gold in the final days of competition for the closing ceremony on Saturday is crucial.

The top-seeded and title favorite Eala seized her moment in history after delivering the Philippines’ first gold medal in women’s singles in 26 years by beating Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew, 6-1, 6-2, in the final on Thursday at the National Tennis Development Center in Nonthaburi.

“Actually, in my mind, this is the start of the next season, but… I mean to end the year on this high is such an amazing thing. I wouldn’t have thought it would happen at the start of the year,” the 20-year-old netter said.

Eala’s hits were on point and attacked her Thai foe from every angle and held her serve for the dominating win.

Sawangkaew threatened a comeback in the second set after knotting the count at 2-2 before Eala stepped on the gas and zoomed to winning the next four games to complete the sweep.

The 1,600-strong Philippine delegation’s flagbearer ended her second stint in the biennial meet with three medals.

She earlier won bronze in the women’s team and in the mixed doubles alongside Francis Alcantara.

“I think this (gold) is just another whole new category. I think, you know, playing with the country written on your back is, you know, and these sort of team events just bring a different kind of pressure. So, I’m so happy with how I handled it and performed every day on court,” Eala said after ending the country’s gold medal drought that started after Maricris Fernandez won it all in 1999 edition in Brunei.

Eala’s golden finish added to the country’s medal tally that now stands at 39 gold, 56 silver and 120 bronze in sixth spot as of 4 p.m.

The Philippines is just three gold medals behind fifth running Malaysia (42-46-107).

Thailand continued with its domination having collected 186-123-83 gold-silver-bronze medals. A mile behind in second place was Indonesia (76-87-95), Vietnam (66-69-96) and Singapore (46-44-64).

After sweeping the three triathlon relay events on Wednesday, the Filipino triathletes settled for silver in the mixed team relay event of duathlon in Leam Mae Phim, Klaeng district in Rayong.

The team of Merry Joy Trupa, Franklin Yee, Erika Burgos and John Patrick Ciron clocked in with 1:35:35 behind Indonesia (1:33:58). Singapore took bronze (1:36:47).

The women’s epee team brought home a bronze in the fencing competition at Fashion Island Mall.

Meanwhile, Gilas Pilipinas women’s advanced to the gold medal round of 5-of-5 basketball after dethroning Indonesia in a sweet, 66-55, semifinal victory at the Nimibutr Stadium.

Kacey dela Rosa led the Pinay cagers with 21 points with 17 coming from the free throw line. Skipper Afril Bernardino finished with 14 points while Janine Pontejos scored 10.

Gilas will face either Thailand or Malaysia in the championship today at 5:30 p.m. (Manila time).

Top boxer Eumir Marcial aims for the gold against Indonesian Muskitya Maikhel Robberd in the men’s 80-kilogram bout at the Chulalongkorn University Sports Center.

Also looking to win gold are Jay Brian Baricuatro, Aira Villegas and Jara Flint.

Baricuatro will go up against Thai Thitiwat Phlongaurai in the men’s 48kg., Villegas challenges another home bet in Chuthamat Raksat in the women’s 50kg. while Jara battles Thanarat Saengphet in the men’s 54kg.