Filipina tennis star Alex Eala remains in the national team roster that will be playing in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games to be held in Cambodia in May.
National team head coach Chris Cuarto said he is keen on having the 17-year-old Eala play in the biennial meet in Cambodia.
Cuarto said the qualifying matches of the 2023 French Open begins on May 28 at the Roland Garros Stadium in Paris and will not be in conflict with that of the SEA Games.
“Alex is not out yet. Kakausapin pa namin sila,” said Cuarto.
Eala, who now has a World Tennis Association ranking of no. 217, recently returned home to Manila for a short visit to be with her family.
Eala was earlier reported to be skipping the SEA Games as she plays tries to qualify in as many Grand Slam tournaments, including the French Open this year.
In the last SEA Games, Eala was part of the national women’s team with Marian Jade Capadocia, Khim Iglupa, and Jenaila Prulla.
The men’s team was composed of Treat Huey, Ruben Gonzales, Nino Alcantara, Jeson Patrombon, and Jed Olivarez.
The national tennis team is currently playing under the banner of the Philippine Olympic Committee, and with the POC tennis stabilization body under Ramon “Tatz” Suzara supervising its formation with Cuarto.
A stabilization body has been working in close coordination with officials of the Philippine Tennis Association since last year, following the suspension of the PHILTA of its membership with the International Tennis Federation due to ongoing leadership conflicts.
Eala said she is currently managing the number of competitions that she is joining even as the Women’s Tennis Association has allocated her 20 professional tournaments to join before she turns 18 on May 23.
Eala felt that she may run into scheduling conflicts if she suits up for the national team in the SEA Games.
