Shaira Rivera battled elimination in the second singles match and cramps in the deciding doubles match to lift the Philippines to a 2-1 victory over Vietnam in the quarterfinals of the women’s tennis team competition on Wednesday at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
Alex Eala, who sat out the match, cheered on her teammates from the stands.
The former Ateneo standout, now playing for US NCAA Division II school University of West Alabama, was called upon to save the Philippine campaign after the team unexpectedly fell behind following the opening singles match.
Coach Denise Dy’s strategy to rest Eala for tougher medal-round ties almost backfired when Alexa Milliam suffered an upset at the hands of Vietnam’s top player Nguyễn Thị Mai Linh.
Milliam, also from the University of West Alabama and named Intercollegiate Tennis Association (ITA) National Freshman of the Year earlier this year, fought hard but fell in three sets, 2-6, 6-4, 6-7 (2).
Fortunately for the Philippines, Rivera proved too strong for Vietnam’s Thụy Thanh Trúc. She defeated the 24-year-old Vietnamese in straight sets, 6-2, 6-2, setting the stage for a dramatic doubles finish at the National Tennis Development Centre in Nonthaburi, Thailand.
(C) POC Media Group
Milliam and Rivera drew first blood in doubles, taking the tight opening set, 7-5, against Linh and Chanelle Vân Nguyễn.
The Vietnamese pair, however, capitalized on Rivera’s limited mobility due to cramps to win the second set.
Fighting on sheer determination, Milliam and Rivera overcame fatigue and pain to dominate the third set, 6-2, clinching the victory for the Philippines.
With the quarterfinal triumph, the Philippines not only advanced to the semifinals but also secured at least a bronze medal in the team event.
Eala, ranked 50th in the world, will finally see action in the semifinals against Thailand. The host team will be led by world No. 134 Lanlana Tararudee, world No. 238 Mananchaya Sawangkaew, and world doubles No. 122 Peangtarn Plipuech.
