Alex Eala finishes SEAG debut with three bronze medals

Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, May 20) – Filipino tennis star Alex Eala will not go home empty handed in her Southeast Asian Games debut in Vietnam.

Eala won three bronze medals, the last of which was in the women’s singles event where she bowed to Thailand's Luksika Kumkhum, 4-6, 1-6, in the semifinals on Friday at the Hanaka Paris Ocean Park Centre Court in Tu Son, Bac Ninh province.

Eala and Kumkhum were in a close battle in the first set and were tied at 4-4, but the Thai netter held her serve in the succeeding two sets to gain a set advantage.

Kumkhum dominated Eala throughout the second set, with the Filipina tennis wunderkind calling a medical timeout as she trailed 1-4. Eala did not score then since she returned from the medical timeout.

On Thursday, Eala and fellow Grand Slam campaigner Treat Huey settled for the bronze medal in the mixed doubles event after losing to the Thai duo of Patcharin Cheapchandej and Pruchya Isaro in three sets.

The 17-year-old Filipino tennis star earlier won a bronze medal in the women’s team event with Shaira Rivera, Marian Capadocia, and Jenaila Prulla.