PH flag bearer Alex Eala staying in the moment ahead of SEA Games golden quest

CHONBURI, Thailand – The pressure is on for Alex Eala as one of the brightest stars in the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, but at least for one night, she got to take her mind off the competition.

All glammed up, the tennis ace shared the flag-bearing duties with volleyball star Bryan Bagunas as they led their fellow Filipino athletes in the opening ceremony at the Rajamangala National Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, on Tuesday, December 9.

“It is my first time being part of the ceremony and I’m the flag bearer so it really is special,” Eala told One Sports+ in a mix of Filipino and English. 

The highest-ranked Southeast Asian in the WTA rankings, Eala is expected to contend for the gold in the women’s singles event and improve on her bronze finish in the 2021 edition in Vietnam.

But the world No. 52 refuses to put additional pressure on herself, instead opting to stay in the moment. 

“[I] try not to think much about results but just out there giving my all, compete, and do what I can,” said Eala.

Meanwhile, Bagunas hopes to lead Alas Pilipinas Men to a historic SEA Games crown, especially after the team surprised in the FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship held in the Philippines last September.

Bagunas and Alas almost advanced to the knockout rounds as they beat Egypt and nearly stunned Iran in the group stage.

Other golden bets who paraded included Olympic boxing medalists Nesthy Petecio and Eumir Marcial.

Marcial guns for a fifth gold in his SEA Games return after missing the 2023 edition in Cambodia, while Petecio looks to win back-to-back titles for the first time in the history of the regional showdown.

Alas Pilipinas Women also took center stage, the team seeking to end a 20-year medal drought. – Rappler.com