For flag and country
Alex Eala remains on track to represent the Philippines in the Asian Games in Japan, even as her camp awaits word on an exemption it sought from the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) to skip the mandatory China Open, whose schedule conflicts with the continental showcase.
Eala’s camp has already written the WTA regarding the exemption, but there is a chance that Eala will receive a penalty for her decision to skip the Beijing tournament in favor of the Asian Games.
That penalty is a mandatory zero that will be counted against her ranking points for 52 weeks. Eala is less likely to be slapped with the late withdrawal fine of $10,000 (P630,000).
The China Open is a designated WTA 1000 event, one of a handful of tournaments ranked just below the Grand Slams. Eala, the world No. 18 whose global superstardom can work against her, is a mandatory entry to the tournament.
Eala hasn’t spoken about her predicament yet, but has recently expressed excitement about playing in the Asian Games.
“I love playing and competing with the Philippine team,” Eala said after her stint in the US Open, where she reached the third round. “And the Asian Games happens once every four years. I just found myself drawn to competing in that.”
Lawmakers have urged heads of Philippine sports agencies to help Eala with her predicament, especially after a report that Indonesian ace Janice Tjen was not able to secure an exemption, prompting her to withdraw an earlier commitment to also play in the Asiad tennis event slated Sept. 27 to Oct. 4.
The China Open will run from Sept. 30 to Oct. 11. The tournament could certainly use a player of Eala’s caliber and popularity, especially with the way the 21-year-old has jacked up ticket sales in every tournament she has played.
Pato Gregorio, the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chair, said his agency is heeding the call of Senators Bong Go and Erwin Tulfo to support Eala.
“We pray she is granted consideration despite the consequences prescribed in standard rules,” Gregorio said. “Alex Eala’s heart and love for the country is golden.”
“The PSC is in close coordination and communication with Philippine Olympic Committee president Abraham Tolentino and Philta (Philippine Tennis Association) secretary-general and Navotas Mayor John Rey Tiangco. They have informed me that the official request [for exemption] has already been submitted to the WTA,” added Gregorio.
“We hope the WTA recognizes the exceptional circumstance of an athlete choosing to compete for her country,” Tiangco said. “Representing the flag should be supported and celebrated.”
Meanwhile, a bunch of Filipino women also enjoying massive popularity at home—the Alas Pilipinas volleyball squad—gets its tough mission going against world power China when their sport gets going at Okazaki Sogo Park Gym in Okazaki.
The mission for this hardy bunch of Nationals is to match or surpass an impressive fourth-place finish by the 1962 Philippine team.
Game time is at 1 p.m. (Manila time), with the Nationals needing to scale the “Great Wall” as the Chinese are eager to redeem themselves after losing to the Thais in the recent Asian Volleyball Confederation Continental Cup held in Tianjin, China.
Their heartbreaking five-set loss to the Thais is expected to give them extra motivation to extend their reign in the continental showpiece. The Chinese have ruled the Games in the past nine editions.
The Filipinos, led by Japanese coach Taka Minowa, are confident they can give the Chinese a good fight.
“We are mentally ready to face the Chinese. We’ll try our very best,” said Minowa, who is accompanied by Filipina wife Jaja Santiago-Minowa.
If the Nationals lose to China, they must beat Kazakhstan on Thursday to advance to the quarterfinals for the chance of matching the remarkable fourth-place finish by the 1962 Philippine team.
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