Alex Eala brushes off Manny Pacquiao comparisons — ‘Ibang level na siya’

Alex Eala says she isn’t the "new Manny Pacquiao" — at least, not yet.

Presented with the comparison at the Australian Open, the 20-year-old was shocked at being associated with boxing’s only eight-division champion.

But after seeing just how big of an impact Eala has had on Filipino sports fans across the globe, it really isn’t an unusual juxtaposition.

With fans flocking to Melbourne Park to watch Eala play in her Australian Open debut, the scenes did mirror the Sundays of years before where the Philippines seemed to stop every time Pacquiao stepped in the ring.

But seeing how Filipinos reacted to Pacquiao’s fights in person as she grew up in Manila, Eala knows that she isn’t on the same conversation at the moment.

“Oh my God, hindi naman ganon. Iba naman si Manny Pacquiao,” Eala exclaimed after being asked of the comparisons. 

“I think, nasa ibang level na siya, I mean naalala ko kapag may laban si Manny, talagang parang bakasyon yung mga tao, hindi pumapasok. And then, yung buong pamilya, nasa bahay. May lechon, may popcorn. So, sa tingin mo, medyo malayo pa ako,” she added.

Though she isn’t as popular as Pacquiao was in his prime, the Rafa Nadal Academy scholar does know that she has a platform of her own now.

Knowing that the next generation of tennis players are witnessing her rise to stardom and relevance in real time, Eala is careful to put her best foot forward.

But rather than focusing on her fundamentals or how she plays physically, Eala said that she would rather them remember her for something that all Filipino athletes share.

That is, good ol’ fashion puso.

“Yung gusto ko sanang kunin nila sa akin, or makita nila sa akin is yung lalaban hanggang dulo. More than yung serve ko, kung paano ako gumalaw or paano ako pumapalo, yung laban talaga yung nakikita sa mga Pinoy, feeling ko. Yun talaga yung characteristic na unique sa Pinoy,” she said.

For the love of the game

At the end of the day, Eala does know that she’s playing for more than herself — and that she’s putting the hopes of a whole country on her shoulders.

[RELATED: Alex Eala reflects on tough Australian Open exit in front of pro-Filipino crowd]

Though some may get blinded by the bright lights, Eala is holding on to what matters the most. Apart from having such a great support system, the Filipina ace is tapping in to something pure: her love of the game.

“Kinukuha ko yung lakas kong lumaban sa pagmamahal ko sa tennis. Mahal ko talaga yung tennis. Mahal ko yung tunog ng bola, mahal ko yung kapag super tight na yung match, tapos important point,” said Eala. 

“Madami akong natutunan sa tennis and malaking bahagi ng buhay ko. Kaya yan talaga yung nagpapatuloy sakin at saka yung pamilya ko,” she continued.

[RELATED: What’s next for Alex Eala after Australian Open?]

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Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.

Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.