Alex Eala and Niño Alcantara. POC Media Pool
BANGKOK (UPDATED) – Filipino tennis stars Alex Eala and Niño Alcantara absorbed a tough loss on Wednesday to end their campaign in the tennis mixed doubles event at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games.
The Filipino duo bowed to Thailand's Patcharin Cheapchandej and Pawit Sornlaksup in the tennis mixed doubles semifinals at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, 7-5, 5-7, 7-10.
Eala and Alcantara took the first set 7-5 giving them an early edge in the match. But their Thai opponents responded by winning the second set, 5-7, shifting momentum to their side.
In the third set tiebreak, the hometown bets took the early 3-1 lead until the Filipino duo leveled the score in the sixth game, 3-3.
The Thai pair rallied to extend their lead to 7-4, until Eala scored a crucial point to keep the Philippines afloat. The Filipino duo scored back-to-back points to cut the lead to one at 8-7, but a double fault error from Alcantara put their Thai foes one point away from the gold medal match.
Eala and Alcantara finished with another bronze medal in the regional showcase.
"Obviously, initial feelings is of disappointment. Just, you know, when you lose and you give your all, but no regrets. And I think both Kuya Nins and I, like, we did everything we could," Eala told Philippine Olympic Committee Media.
"In the end, doubles is really, you know, could be a game of chance. And I think our opponents played really well. So, I'm happy with the effort we put in," she added.
Despite the tough loss, Eala remained grateful for getting a medal for the country.
"We really could have won today. But in the end, so many takeaways and I had so much fun playing mixed doubles," she said.
Eala and Alcantara each clinched bronze in the women's and men's team events.
The Filipina tennis ace will still have a shot at a gold medal on Thursday, as she seeks to end the country's 26-year gold drought in women's tennis.
Eala will face WTA No. 240 Mananchaya Sawangkaew of Thailand in the final.