By El Amigo
MANILA — Alex Eala continued her march toward Asian Games glory, sweeping Chinese Taipei’s Joanna Garland, 7-5, 6-0, on Wednesday to secure a place in the women’s singles semifinals and guarantee the Philippines another tennis medal.
The Filipino ace was tested early by Garland, the eighth seed and world No. 143, who refused to give Eala an easy opening set. The rallies remained tight until Eala produced the crucial plays late in the frame to move ahead, 7-5.
That breakthrough changed the complexion of the match.
Eala, ranked No. 18 in the world, immediately seized command in the second set and never allowed Garland to recover. The top seed swept all six games to close out the match and secure her spot in the semifinals at the Higashiyama Park Tennis Center.
The result means Eala is assured of another Asian Games singles medal. She also reached the podium in Hangzhou, where she settled for bronze, but her ambitions in Nagoya extend beyond another bronze finish.
The 21-year-old Filipina entered the competition as the highest-ranked player in the women’s singles draw and opened with an equally emphatic performance, beating Thailand’s Patcharin Cheapchandej, 6-1, 6-0.
Now, Eala remains just two victories away from the Asian Games singles title and a potential breakthrough gold for the Philippines in the women’s event.
She could also leave Nagoya with more than one medal.
Eala has joined forces with Shaira Hope Rivera in the women’s doubles, and the new partnership immediately delivered a convincing result. The Filipino pair defeated Hong Kong’s Lai Ching Laam and Kallista Liu, 6-1, 6-3, to advance.
Awaiting them in the next round are China’s third-seeded Jiang Xinyu and Yang Zhaoxuan. Eala therefore remains active in two events, giving her another chance to contribute to the Philippine medal haul.
In boxing, Paalam likewise kept his gold-medal bid alive, surviving a 3-2 split decision against Kazakhstan’s Makhmud Sabyrkhan, the reigning world champion, in the men’s 55kg semifinals. The Tokyo Olympic silver medalist is assured of silver and will fight Japan’s Rui Yamaguchi for the championship.
Beach volleyball produced mixed results for the Philippines. Rondina and Pons were eliminated in the quarterfinals following a three-set loss to Thailand, while Pagara and Progella advanced to the semifinals.
The Philippine delegation has now secured 18 medals — three gold, three silver and 12 bronze in the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
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