NONTHABURI — Alex Eala will finally see action for Team Philippines deep into its campaign in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games here at the Tennis Development Center in Nonthaburi as the women’s singles quarterfinals begin on Monday, December 15.

Eala, who was listed in the roster but did not see action in the team event, will be playing two matches — one women’s singles and another in mixed doubles. Both are quarterfinals, which means if she wins both her matches, she will add two more medals to her haul, assuring at least a bronze for the two events.

All eyes will be on her singles’ bid as she chases a SEA Games gold medal in her second campaign in the biennial tournament.

Eala will be facing off first against Malaysia’s Shihomi Leong in the women’s single quarterfinal.

Now leaps and bounds more experienced than in 2022, Eala will be heavily leaned upon by the team to get their hardware in the individual events here.

“She had a great training week this past week and the past few days and I think it’s going to be a competitive field with not only Janice [Tjen], but we can’t count out the two Thai players on the draw as well,” said women’s team head coach Denise Dy, who herself is a two-time SEA Games gold medalist.

“At the end of the day, it’s tennis and anything can happen but I think she’s hitting the ball very well and she’s definitely a lot rested in her Asian circuit series this past couple of weeks. I think she’s ready to go and she’s really, really excited and motivated to do well in the games.”

Meanwhile, she will partner up with Niño Alcantara in the mixed doubles, where they also had a bye in the Round of 16.

She and Alcantara will face off against the winner of the Round of 16 match between Indonesia’s Ignatius Susanto and Meydiana Reinnamah and Singapore’s Daniel Abadia and Wei Choo.