One more step remains in the Philippines’ bid for a long-awaited promotion in the Billie Jean King Cup.
The Philippine Women’s National Tennis Team stumbled on Thursday but bounced back on Friday, keeping itself in strong contention for a place in Group I of the Asia/Oceania Zone.
After opening its campaign at the National Tennis Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia with back-to-back 2-1 victories over world No. 52 Hong Kong and No. 69 Singapore, the 68th-ranked Philippine squad hit a setback against No. 64 Pacific Oceania, absorbing a 1-2 defeat.
Rising teen standout Tennielle Madis, who had earlier won both her singles matches against Hong Kong and Singapore, struggled in the tie and was overwhelmed by former junior standout Violet Apisah, 6-0, 6-0.
Former Ateneo standout Shaira Rivera, stepping in for University of West Alabama teammate Alexa Milliam in the second singles match, started strong—taking the first set and building a 3-1 lead in the second—but faded down the stretch as Carolann Delaunay fought back to complete a 2-6, 6-4, 6-2 win and secure Pacific Oceania’s second victory in the competition.
Milliam and Steffi Aludo salvaged a point for the Philippines in doubles, dominating Apisah and Delaunay, 6-0, 6-0.
The result set up a must-win clash for the team coached by Denise Dy and Bobie Angelo against winless Kyrgyzstan on Friday.
The 18-year-old Madis quickly regained her form, brushing aside 14-year-old Eva Gavshina, 6-0, 1-0 (ret.), to put the Philippines in control early.
Milliam, who remained unbeaten in doubles, finally secured her first singles win of the campaign by defeating Safina Khabibrakhmanova, 6-2, 6-3, clinching the Philippines’ third victory.
Milliam and Aludo then completed the sweep with a 6-1, 6-0 win over Saara Myzaeva and Sezim Sagynbaeva in the doubles rubber.
Despite finishing with identical 3-1 records, the Philippines topped Bracket A over Hong Kong by virtue of its head-to-head win earlier in the week.
Hong Kong will face Chinese Taipei, the No. 1 team from Bracket B, on Saturday, while the Philippines will take on Bracket B second placer Uzbekistan, ranked No. 66.
The winners of the Hong Kong–Chinese Taipei and Philippines–Uzbekistan ties will secure promotion to Asia/Oceania Group I in 2027.
