Lee’s fighting heart shines in Pueblo de Oro triumph

Manila Times - Oct 14, 2026

MANILA, Philippines – Tiffany Lee had waited two long years to win again, and when her chance finally came, she had to fight for every inch of it. The Manila-based Korean saw a seemingly comfortable four-shot lead unravel in a harrowing front-nine struggle at the ICTSI Pueblo de Oro Championship on Wednesday. But just when the title appeared to be slipping away, the 18-year-old summoned the resolve, composure and fighting heart that have come to define her young career, producing a clutch back-nine rally to turn back Yvon Bisera by two strokes on a closing 72 and end a frustrating wait for her second professional victory. It was no runaway triumph. It was a test of character. Lee stumbled early, surrendered her commanding advantage and found herself trailing in a gripping duel that went down to the final hole at Pueblo de Oro Golf and Country Club in Cagayan de Oro. With the pressure mounting and Bisera threatening to force a playoff, Lee refused to fold, rediscovered her touch at the crucial moment and delivered the decisive blows when the championship hung in the balance. Back-to-back birdies from No. 14 brought Lee back to two-under overall and pulled her level with Bisera, wiping out the damage...

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Eala eyes fresh start at Ningbo Open

Oct 14, 2026

Eala eyes fresh start at Ningbo Open

MANILA, Philippines -- Looking to get back on track after a string of upset losses, Filipino tennis ace Alex Eala will compete at the WTA 500 Ningbo Open in China. Running right after the 1000 Wuhan Open, Ningbo will unfold from October 19 to 25. World No. 19 Eala suffered her worst loss of the season in Wuhan, where she got booted out with a 6-4, 3-6, 3-6 loss to Chinese qualifier and No. 217 Shi Han last Monday. It was Eala's third straight loss to a player ranked significantly lower than her. The losing spell started at the Singapore Open second round where she fell to world No. 180 Tatiana Prozorova, 6-4, 5-7, 3-6, on September 24. A week later at the 20th Asian Games in Nagoya, Eala bowed to world No. 85 Wang Xiyu, 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, to settle for a bronze medal on October 1. Then came the latest shock defeat to Shi on October 12 in Wuhan where Eala once again took the first set only to crumble afterward. The 21-year-old likewise suffered a first round exit in doubles with Turkish player Zeynep Sönmez, falling to the Ukrainian tandem of Dayana Yastremska and Anhelina Kalinina on October 13. Eala looks to put that all behind her in Ningbo, hoping for a fresh start and to find the winning form she displayed during her conquest of the 500 D.C. Open last August. Only the top four seeds receive a first-round bye in the 28-player field Ningbo Open. As it stands, Eala is the 11th highest rated among direct entrants. World No. 1 defending champion Elena Rybakina will be the top seed followed by No. 4 Jessica Pegula, No. 6 Elina Svitolina, and No. 9 Iga Swiatek. Eala won't have a first-round bye but is expected to face another lower-ranked player to start her campaign. The lefty Eala is only listed in the singles entry of the tournament.