Alex Eala is a SEA Games gold medalist for the first time ever, with the Filipina tennis star scoring a commanding victory over Thailand's Mananchaya Sawangkaew in the women’s singles tennis Finals.
The 26-year wait is finally over.
Alex Eala became the first Filipina tennis player to win women’s singles SEA Games gold since 1999, defeating hometown favorite Mananchaya Sawangkaew via straight sets 6-1, 6-2 on Thursday, December 18, at the National Tennis Development Center.
Playing in enemy territory, Eala raced to a quick 3–0 lead and never looked back, claiming the first set in under an hour.
She turned up the intensity in the second set to secure the victory, giving the Philippines its 39th gold medal overall of the competition.
Before Eala, Cecil Mamiit was the last Filipino athlete to win tennis singles gold in 2009 Laos.
The 20-year-old lefty also became the third Filipina to win the event, joining Pia Tamayo (1981 Manila Games) and Fernandez.
The world No. 53 now capped her 2025 SEA Games campaign with gold in singles, alongside a pair of bronze medals in mixed doubles and the team event.
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.