MANILA – Alexandra Eala claimed the gold medal in women’s singles tennis at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games by defeating Thailand’s Mananchaya Sawangkaew, 6-1, 6-2, in the final on Thursday at the National Tennis Development Centre in Nonthaburi, Thailand.
The top-seeded Filipina controlled the match from the outset, overcoming the home crowd support for Sawangkaew to assert her dominance in the championship round.
Eala built an early lead in the opening set and maintained her composure to close it out comfortably.
The second set was more competitive in the early stages, but Eala regained control midway through the frame, stringing together key points to pull away. She then held serve to seal the victory and secure the gold medal.
Eala’s triumph ended a 26-year drought for the Philippines in women’s singles tennis at the SEA Games. The last time the country won gold in the event was more than two decades ago.
The Filipina tennis star also added to the Philippines’ medal tally by teaming up with Francis Casey Alcantara to win a bronze medal in the mixed doubles competition.
Team Pilipinas continued to build its medal haul, delivering podium finishes across windsurfing, modern pentathlon, fencing, squash, flying disc, esports, duathlon, chess, tennis, and kiteboarding.
In windsurfing, Dhenver Castillo captured the gold medal in the Men’s U19 IQ Foil event, while Renz Angelo Amboy secured silver in the Men’s Techno 293 Plus. Harold Madrigal added a bronze in the Men’s IQ Foil, and Arianne Paz also claimed bronze in the Women’s IQ Foil.
Melvin Sacay delivered another gold for the Philippines after ruling the Men’s Modern Pentathlon Laser Run Individual, clocking 10:41.55 and earning 659 points. In the same discipline, Princess Honey Arbilon collected a silver medal in the Women’s Laser Run Individual.
The fencing team produced mixed results, with Noelito Jose Jr. settling for silver after a narrow 15-14 loss to Vietnam’s Phuoc Den Nguyen in the final. Additional bronze medals were secured by Christian Jester Concepcion and Eunice Daniel Villanueva, who bowed out in the semifinals of the Men’s Individual Sabre event.
In squash, Kayod Pilipinas earned two silver medals in the Squash Jumbo Doubles U21 competitions, highlighted by Aerra JC Mae Relano and Jonathan Reyes finishing second in the Mixed U21 event.
Pilipinas Ultimate emerged champions in the Mixed Flying Disc Ultimate Division, defeating Singapore, 9-7, in the gold medal match.
Team Sibol settled for silver in the Women’s Mobile Legends: Bang Bang tournament after a tightly contested 3-4 loss to Malaysia in the final, matching its runner-up finish in the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games.
The Philippines also claimed silver in the Mixed Duathlon Relay, with the quartet of Merry Joy Trupa, Franklin Ferdie Yee, Erika Nicole Burgos, and John Patrick Ciron completing a strong campaign.
In chess, Jan Emmanuel Garcia and Paulo Bersamina powered the national team to silver in the Men’s Makruk Doubles Standard event after a 0.5–1.5 loss to host Thailand. The pair likewise secured silver in the Men’s T10 event, mirroring their earlier second-place finish in the T20 competition.
Tennis provided another podium finish as Tenielle Madis and Stefi Aludo bagged bronze in the Women’s Doubles, highlighted by a quarterfinal upset over a Thailand pair both ranked in the WTA.
Completing the medal list, Warner Janoya delivered a bronze medal for the Philippines in kiteboarding, adding to Team Pilipinas’ growing tally at the regional meet./PN
