Alex Eala, Niño Alcantara rely on cool, comfortable partnership en route to SEA Games semis

NONTHABURI — Alex Eala and Niño Alcantara sealed their place in the semifinals of mixed doubles at the SEA Games 2025 after taking care of business against Singapore’s Daniel Abadia and Wei Choo, 6-4, 6-3, at the National Tennis Development Center on Monday afternoon.

Eala and Alcantara, who also won bronze in the 2022 SEA Games in Vietnam and the Asian Games in Hangzhou, showed poise even as Abadia and Choo were able to play at pace with them in the opener.

After taking a 3-1 lead, things slowed down for the Filipino pair who gave up back-to-back game wins that saw the set tied at 3-all. But with their compounded experience, the Filipino netters were able to rebound and take the opening set, 6-4.

For Alcantara, it was all about keeping their composure amid the challenge of their opponents.

“We were just having fun. What we did in Asian Games in Hangzhou, that's why we got the bronze, because we were just having fun, enjoying the game. We were just swinging freely,” Alcantara told POC Media here at the venue.

“My chemistry with Alex, it was still the same. I still know her as this baby girl in Valle Verde,” he added.

The mixed doubles win gave Eala a perfect outing in her first day of on-court action for Team Philippines. She also won her earlier match in women’s singles.

[RELATED: Alex Eala safely through SEA Games 2025 semis after passing first test]

She has already assured herself two more medals, already netting at least a bronze in both singles and mixed doubles.

Eala marches on in the women’s singles on Tuesday, as she faces off with Thailand’s Thasaporn Naklo for a shot at gold.

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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.