TENNIS – THE Philippines and the Northern Mariana Islands secured their promotion yesterday to the Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group II tennis tournament in 2025.
They advanced after finishing as the top two teams in this year’s Asia/Oceania Group III competition, which was hosted by the kingdom.
Boosted by a large crowd of Bahrain-based Filipinos, the Philippine squad, led by world number 158 Alexandra Eala, capped a dominant week with a cool 2-0 triumph against Laos in their promotional play-off at the Bahrain Tennis Federation (BTF) hardcourts in Isa Town.
The Northern Mariana Islands, meanwhile, showed their resilience in battling back from a match down to defeat Myanmar 2-1 in their play-off.
Following the two ties, both winners were presented with medals in an awarding ceremony attended by BTF secretary general Fuad Al Rowaie and other officials.
“We came here with high expectations,” Philippines coach Denise Dy told the GDN. “There was a bit of pressure on us as we are usually in Group I or Group II, so we are super happy and super proud that we were able to execute and get the job done here.
“We’re looking forward to having a more competitive Group II next year.”
Marian Jade Capadocia gave the Filipinos a winning start after outclassing Laos’ Phonesamai Champamanivong 6-0, 6-0 in the first singles match of their head-to-head. Eala then sealed their promotion with a 6-1, 6-1 win over a battling Malaylack Delilah Pathummakuronen.
The doubles match pitting the Philippines’ Khim Iglupas and Shaira Hope Rivera against Champamanivong and Pathummakuronen was no longer played.
“We showed this past week how deep and strong our team is,” Dy said. “We are super proud and super happy that Alex chose to play for the country, and that was a huge help. Marian has been a veteran here for the last five to 10 years, and with Khim’s and Shaira’s doubles skills, we have a lot of different combinations, so it’s been great to have all four players part of the team.”
Eala, who was the star draw of the competition with even her opponents lining up to take pictures with her, expressed her delight in her maiden experience in the Billie Jean King Cup.
“It’s definitely a big honour to be representing the Philippines,” Eala told the GDN. “It’s almost a duty for a Filipino tennis player to compete for the national team, and it is also a milestone – something that everyone wants to experience in their career, especially in this individual sport.
“I’m super happy to be here and it’s always good vibes with the other players and Coach Dy.
“There was a bit of a gap in terms of ranking with our opponents, which is why I am also happy that we could advance so the matches and the level of tennis in general will be higher next year.”
Of the tremendous fan support the team received in the tournament, Dy said: “We felt pretty much like it was home and I think the Filipino community in Bahrain is just amazing.”
Eala added: “The Filipinos here have been extraordinary! They really went above and beyond in terms of hospitality and just making us feel welcome. We’ve received so much love and I’m super grateful for that.”
Meanwhile, in the Northern Mariana Islands’ promotional play-off victory, Nilar Win took the opening match for Myanmar 6-3, 6-2 against Maria Isabel Gvan Heras. Carol Young Suh Lee got her team back on track after cruising to a 6-0, 6-0 triumph over Htay Htay Myint, sending the tie into the decisive doubles clash.
There, Heras and Lee defeated Win and Thiri Zoun 6-1, 6-3 to book the Northern Mariana Islands’ tickets to next year’s higher tier.
The Billie Jean King Cup is a leading global competition between national teams in women’s tennis. The kingdom hosted its zonal group for the second straight year.
In other matches yesterday, Vietnam clinched fifth overall on the final ranking after beating the Maldives 2-1, Nepal claimed seventh with a 2-1 win against Turkmenistan, Macau claimed 11th place after sweeping Tajikistan 3-0, and Brunei beat Iraq 3-0 to clinch 15th overall.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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