'Just to disappear': Alex Eala seeks well-earned rest after historic WTA run

Manila Times - Nov 9, 2026

MANILA, Philippines — Following a whirlwind "fairytale" season that saw her shatter milestones and cap the year as the world No. 15, Philippine tennis star Alexandra "Alex" Eala is ready to step away from the spotlight and simply disappear for a little bit. Eala officially clinched a career-best ranking on Monday following a strong runner-up finish at the 250 Hong Kong Open, capping off a 35-notch leap from her No. 50 finish last season. Despite the historic highs—including a fourth-round run at Wimbledon and her first main Tour title at the 500 D.C. Open—the 21-year-old's immediate priority is well-deserved downtime. With no more tournaments left on her calendar for the rest of the year, Eala is looking forward to laying low and spending quality time with her family away from the courts. "Oh, I'm going to spend time with my family," Eala shared. "Yeah, just lay low, disappear for a little bit. And then yeah, those are my plans. Just to disappear." Before stepping back to recharge, the trailblazing athlete made sure to express deep gratitude to her supporters, family, and coaching team—her brother Miko, coach Joan Bosch, and coaches Lluc Bauza and Sandro Viaene—for transforming her life and helping turn her dreams into...

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Eala to finish WTA 2026 in top 15

Nov 8, 2026

Eala to finish WTA 2026 in top 15

FILIPINO tennis ace Alex Eala is set for a career-best No. 15 finish in the Women's Tennis Association (WTA) 2026 season rankings. Regardless of her WTA 250 Hong Kong Open final result against Claire Liu Sunday afternoon, Eala already secured the No. 15 spot with 2,392 points. After Hong Kong, the only tournament left is the season-ended WTA Finals at Indian Wells from Nov. 8 to 15 but only the top eight players are participating so it won’t affect Eala’s ranking no matter the result. With 2,392 points as her base, last week's No. 17 Eala will eclipse No. 15 Sorana Cirstea who ended her season with 2,386 points. The live rankings Saturday night indicated that Eala can pad her total points to 2,479 with a Hong Kong championship, but that won't be enough to push her up a notch at No. 14. Current No. 14 Elise Mertens will stay at her place since she has 2,540 total points. A top 15 finish meant a 35-rank improvement for Eala who finished last year as top 50. In a fitting follow-up to her first WTA main tour, Eala went on to make a historic fourth-round finish at Wimbledon last July which is the highest for any Filipino player. Eala also secured her first main Tour title at the 500 D.C. Open in Washington last August. Two months earlier in June, Eala claimed a 125-tier Birmingham Open title. Thus, she could raise her titles to three with a Hong Kong championship. Eala made it to the final after defeating Emerson Jones in the first round, 6-4, 6-3; Tereza Valentova in the second, 6-4, 7-6(7); Antonia Ruzic in the quarterfinals, 7-6(7); and Maria Sakkari in the semifinals, 7-5, 3-6, 6-4. The lefty netter was seeking a payback win against world No. 102 Liu in the final. Eala yielded to Liu at the Guangzhou Open first round in October last year, 6-2, 4-6, 4-6.

AU, EAC clash for twice-to-beat incentive

Nov 8, 2026

AU, EAC clash for twice-to-beat incentive

ARELLANO University and Emilio Aguinaldo College will clash for the twice-to-beat incentive in Group B of the NCAA Season 102 men’s basketball tournament on Monday at the PhilSports Arena in Pasig City. Both teams enter the game tied at 6-6, as the winner will claim second place in Group B and secure the twice-to-beat advantage heading into the quarterfinals. The Arellano Chiefs and EAC Generals tip off at 5 p.m., following the Group A matchup between Mapua University and Lyceum of the Philippines University at 3 p.m. The Generals came off a confidence-boosting win against Group B leader Colegio de San Juan de Letran after a 78-71 victory, while the Chiefs escaped the win-seeking San Sebastian College-Recoletos, 69-6. In EAC’s win over Letran, Jacob Shanoda led the scoring with 16 points and eight rebounds, while Jude Bagay added 12 points and three rebounds for the victory. This crucial win for EAC forced a tie in the Group B standings. In the first round, Arellano won over EAC by a slim 90-87 victory, with Basti Valencia’s go-ahead triple and T-mc Ongotan’s floater in the dying seconds of the match. If Arellano wants to recreate its victory against EAC, Ongotan and King Vinoya should all chip in their forces against the trio of Bagay, Kyle Octavo, and Raymundo. In Season 101, Arellano made the quarterfinals, while EAC only reached the play-in round and lost to JRU. Before Season 101, the format was just the Final Four. EAC has never reached the top 4 or any playoff stage in their history since joining the NCAA in 2009. In Group A’s action, Mapua looks to close out the preliminary round with a victory against Lyceum. Mapua, relegated to the play-in round, enjoys a twice-to-beat advantage. Lyceum and Mapua will face each other once more in the play-in round.

Titans brace for tough battle vs Cool Smashers

Nov 8, 2026

Titans brace for tough battle vs Cool Smashers

CHOCO Mucho pioneer member Maddie Madayag knows an uphill battle awaits the Flying Titans as they need to conquer Creamline and PLDT in their remaining games of the 2026-27 Premier Volleyball League (PVL) All-Filipino Conference–Siklab Series. Choco Mucho sits in third place with a 3-3 record, tied with Akari and trailing Nxled (5-0) and Creamline (4-1). In a crucial match, the Flying Titans fell to the Akari in a grueling five-set match, 25-19, 22-25, 25-21, 19-25, 16-14, on Saturday that positioned the team to lethal position from falling out from the last four.
A win would have improved their record to 4-2 and strengthened their bid, but the loss left them with more pressure heading into a tougher stretch of the schedule. Madayag, who finished with eight points, admitted the defeat was difficult to accept. “I don’t know at this point; the standings are so close that we really need to ... We should have won this game, but Akari just showed they wanted it more. It’s unfortunate because we had so many weapons and we weren’t able to show them,” she said. “But there’s nothing we can do ... it’s tiring. Well, I guess we just have to bounce back next game, and it’s against Creamline too.” Madayag also acknowledged that the recent losses have weighed heavily on the team. “The losses are very degrading, but that’s just part of the game. It’s part of being a professional athlete, you win and you lose. It really comes down to how we, as a team, handle the loss and bounce back from it. “I think we just need a day to recover and reflect on what went wrong and how we can make it better. But again, we have to face Creamline once more.” With a tough slate remaining against the 11-time champions Creamline and a dangerous PLDT side powered by Savi Davison, Madayag emphasized that both upcoming matches are must-wins. “It’s a must-win game, both games are must-wins for us. I think we have to give everything we’ve got, and we have no choice but to win if we still want to play in the next round.”

Nuggets hold off Pacers in Mexico City game

Nov 8, 2026

Nuggets hold off Pacers in Mexico City game

LOS ANGELES — Denver star Nikola Jokic scored 19 points and grabbed 13 rebounds as the Nuggets held off Indiana’s second-half surge to triumph 114-102 on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) in the NBA’s Mexico City game. Three-time NBA Most Valuable Player Jokic added eight assists, coming up just shy of a triple-double. Cameron Johnson added 18 points and Jamal Murray chipped in 16 for the Nuggets, who saw a 27-point lead sliced to seven midway through the fourth quarter but held on for the victory before a sellout crowd of more than 20,000 at Mexico City’s Arena CDMX. Indiana’s Pascal Siakam led all scorers with 23 points. The league headed south of the border for its 16th regular-season contest in Mexico. Along with 19 pre-season games, the country has hosted the most NBA games outside of the United States and Canada. The Pacers, again playing without injured Tyrese Haliburton, jumped to a quick 5-0 lead and were up 7-4 when the Nuggets produced a 10-0 scoring run to seize a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. Denver pushed the advantage to as many as 27 on the way to a 64-41 halftime edge. The Pacers hit back with a 37-point third quarter and pulled within 102-95 on a Jarace Walker running basket with 7:27 remaining. The Nuggets responded with a quick basket from Spencer Jones and a thunderous Aaron Gordon dunk as they kept the Pacers at bay. The game was one of seven on Saturday’s slate, which also featured the Cleveland Cavaliers hosting the defending champion New York Knicks. It’s the second heavyweight clash in as many nights in Cleveland, where the Cavs beat LeBron James and the Eastern Conference-leading Philadelphia 76ers on Friday. It’s a rematch of last season’s Eastern Conference finals, in which the Knicks swept the Cavs on the way to their first NBA title since 1973.

Rahm, McIlroy primed for Abu Dhabi title battle

Nov 8, 2026

Rahm, McIlroy primed for Abu Dhabi title battle

ABU DHABI, UAE — Jon Rahm will take a one-shot lead into the final round of the Abu Dhabi Championship, with Ryder Cup teammate Rory McIlroy among the players breathing down his neck. Rahm broke out of a three-way tie for the overnight lead with a six-under 66 on Saturday, picking up five shots on the back nine, including an eagle at the 11th. "Fantastic round. Wishing I would have hit a couple better putts in the last two holes, right, just misread those two putts. But overall, obviously very good golf," said Rahm. The Spaniard is 18-under overall and a stroke clear of Tyrrell Hatton and Francesco Laporta. They began the third round level with Rahm, who is playing in his first event since leaving the rebel LIV Golf tour last month. Rahm is targeting his first win outside of LIV since triumphing at the Masters in 2023. "It would be amazing. It's been a good year so far. But to win again on the DP World Tour would be special," said Rahm. McIlroy sits two shots off the lead at Yas Links after a five-under 67, having surged with four birdies on the front nine before a double-bogey at the 10th and a dropped shot at the 17th slowed his momentum. "Encouraged, as I played some really good golf out there but also a little rueful," said McIlroy, who overshot the green on the par-four 10th hole and took a costly six. He rebounded with four straight birdies but failed to find the green out of the bunker on the par-three 17th and lost ground on Rahm. "Overall, good day. Kept myself within touching distance and I have a good shot at it tomorrow, which is all I want," said McIlroy. "I'm going to have to go out and shoot a low one, something in the mid to low 60s to get it done tomorrow, and that will be the goal." McIlroy is bidding for a fifth successive Race to Dubai title and record-equaling eighth in total. He trails Eugenio Chacarra and Patrick Reed in this season's standings. Chacarra is 10 shots off the pace in Abu Dhabi, while Reed lies on a distant one-under after three rounds.

Messi wins second MLS Golden Boot

Nov 8, 2026

Messi wins second MLS Golden Boot

MIAMI — Inter Miami's Lionel Messi won his second consecutive MLS Golden Boot award on Saturday (Sunday in Manila) after the defending champions took second place in the Eastern Conference with a wasteful 3-3 draw against Charlotte on the final day of the regular season. The Argentine superstar did not score but set up the first two goals at Miami's Nu Stadium, both from corners, to help procure his club a home-field advantage for the first two playoff rounds. Messi's 26 goals this season were enough to make him the first back-to-back MLS Golden Boot award winner. Petar Musa of Dallas was second on 22, not scoring in his club's 3-1 home victory over Colorado. Ian Fray, Luis Suarez and Rodrigo De Paul racked up three first-half strikes for Inter Miami before Liel Abada's brace soon after the break sparked a comeback sealed by Rodolfo Aloko's late strike. Runaway overall leaders Nashville broke the all-time MLS points record for a season with a whopping 77 after beating Cincinnati 2-0. At 23-3 with eight drawn, Nashville won the East and broke the mark of 74 points set by Miami in 2024. Miami finished second in the East on 60 points as third-place New England failed to take advantage of Inter's draw with a surprise 1-0 loss at Orlando to end on 58. Messi's men will face Columbus to begin the MLS playoffs. Other East matchups send New England against Philadelphia, Charlotte against Chicago and top seed Nashville against the wild-card winner, Orlando or Cincinnati. Columbus took advantage of the Cincinnati loss with a 4-3 victory at Chicago to finish seventh and avoid the wild card round. At Miami, Messi's 14th-minute corner fell unexpectedly to Charlotte's Luca de la Torre, who spooned it up for Fray to open the scoring. Another Messi corner in the 33rd minute found Suarez wide open at the near post. The Uruguayan glanced in his header for 2-0. De Paul made it three before halftime, but Abada pulled back a goal for the visitors early and bagged a second in the 55th minute. In the 90th, Aloko bagged the equalizer, responding first to the ball as Smalls's shot ricocheted off the post. A visibly frustrated Messi hit the post in stoppage time before Aloko came inches from bagging an unlikely winner with a thunderous shot into the outside netting.

NBA: Victory Wembanyama scores 29, Spurs trounce Blazers

Nov 8, 2026

NBA: Victory Wembanyama scores 29, Spurs trounce Blazers

PORTLAND, Oregon — Victor Wembanyama scored 29 points and led the San Antonio Spurs to a 125-103 blowout win over the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday night. Devin Vassell added 15 points for the Spurs (8-2) along with 14 each from Stephon Castle and Julian Champagnie, and 13 from Dylan Harper. Deni Avdija led the

LIVE: Alex Eala vs Claire Liu – Hong Kong Open final

Nov 8, 2026

LIVE: Alex Eala vs Claire Liu – Hong Kong Open final

Second seed Alex Eala aims to win her second WTA title as she faces American Claire Liu in the Hong Kong Open final. SCHEDULE: Alex Eala at Hong Kong Open November 8, Sunday – Center Court 4:oo p.m. – Alex Eala vs Claire Liu LIVE UPDATES: Alex Eala vs Claire Liu Liu fifth ace, 40-30

An Se-young ‘very proud’ as she wins home Korea Open for her 11th badminton title of year

Nov 8, 2026

An Se-young ‘very proud’ as she wins home Korea Open for her 11th badminton title of year

Badminton world No 1 An Se-young said she was “very proud” of her achievements after winning an incredible 11th title of the year at her home Korea Open on Sunday. The 24-year-old beat Japan’s Akane Yamaguchi 21-12, 15-21, 21-16 in the final in Yeosu to extend an unbeaten run that stretches back to March. An has been head and shoulders above the rest of the competition this year but she said she still had to be on her guard against world No 2 Yamaguchi. “She’s a player who can always keep the...

NBA: Suns ground Rockets for 1st back-to-back wins of season

Nov 8, 2026

NBA: Suns ground Rockets for 1st back-to-back wins of season

PHOENIX — Devin Booker scored 24 points, including seven straight to break a late tie, and the Phoenix Suns held off the Houston Rockets 102-99 on Saturday night. Booker broke a 95-all tie with a basket with just under 4 minutes left, then hit a 3-pointer to make it 100-95. Another basket with 2:30 left

NBA: Steph Curry scores 41, streaking Warriors top Magic in OT

Nov 8, 2026

NBA: Steph Curry scores 41, streaking Warriors top Magic in OT

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World No.1 Elena Rybakina withdraws from WTA Finals due to virus

Nov 8, 2026

World No.1 Elena Rybakina withdraws from WTA Finals due to virus

World number one Elena Rybakina withdrew from the WTA Finals at Indian Wells on Saturday due to a viral illness. Defending champion Rybakina said in a statement that she was “not physically ready to compete” in the traditional season-ender, which starts Sunday, and would focus on resting and recovering for her 2027 campaign. “I am

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