SCHEDULES permitting, tennis standout Alex Eala is keen on representing the country anew in the 33rd Thailand Southeast Asian Games in December, according to Philippine Tennis Association executive director Tonette Mendoza.
“Alex is really keen on representing the country again in the Thailand SEA Games, but it will all depend on her schedule, but hopefully she will be available,” said Mendoza yesterday during the Philippine Sportwriters Association Forum at the PSC conference room in Malate.
Mendoza said the chances of the tennis ace vying for the country are high, considering that the WTA season will be over in December, although it is also the time when most players begin their preparations for the Australian Open in February next year.
Given her vast improvement since making her SEA Games debut in the Vietnam edition in 2022, copping a bronze medal each in the mixed doubles and women’s team event, Eala, currently ranked No. 65 in the world, would be the hands-down favorite to clinch her first individual gold medal in the biennial regional meet.
Also a guest in the session backed by the Philippine Sports Commission, Philippine Olympic Committee, San Miguel Corp., Smart/PLDT, Milo and gaming portal ArenaPlus was national netter Jed Olivarez, who played a key role in the PH squad that swept all its matches in Group 4 of the Asia-Oceania Davis Cup series in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to earn promotion of Group 3 of the Zone.
Speaking of the country’s tennis chances in the SEA Games, Olivarez, the son of Philta president Paranaque Mayor Eric Olivarez and fresh from ruling the Olivarez Cup men’s singles event over the weekend, believes the Pinoy netters have a fighting chance for golds in the men’s division.
“Ruben Gonzales and Nino Alcantara will be returning to defend their men’s doubles title for the third time, while I and AJ Lim will have something to prove that we can compete against the best in the region,” Olivarez, 27, said.
Mendoza said that Philta is starting to rebuild its grassroots development programs that were stalled due to the pandemic, disclosing two back-to-back projects in September.
She said that the association will hold the International Tennis Federation 14-and-Under High Performance Training Camp, featuring 14 promising boys and girls in the age group, from Sept. 10 to 14 at the Philta Training Center inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex.
Mendoza added that this will be immediately followed by the GSPDP Asian Under-14 Junior Tennis Championships, sanctioned by the Asian Tennis Federation, slated from Sept. 16 to 20 at the same venue.
She said that the competition will coincide with ATF Administrators Workshop from Sept. 15 to 18.
