Nelson Morales

‘Walang bibitaw’ spirit pays off as Philippines earns promotion to BJKC Group I

Article (news)

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

The Philippine women’s tennis team is heading to Group 1 after defeating Uzbekistan in a dramatic promotional playoff tie on Saturday at the National Tennis Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They clinched the promotion to the Asia/Oceania Group I of the Billie Jean King Cup, which is the highest tier of the tournament’s regional zonal competition.Tennielle Madis opened the tie with a 6-4, 7-5 win over Nigina Alimova. <div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/6/16/ph-stuns-top-seed-hong-kong-to-open-billie-jean-king-cup-campaign-1253">PH stuns top seed Hong Kong to open Billie Jean King Cup campaign</a> </div>Shaira Hope Rivera dropped the second singles rubber to Sevil Yuldasheva, 3-6, 5-7 leveling the tie and sending the match to a deciding doubles.Reliable doubles pairing Rivera and Alexa Joy Milliam took on the pressure and delivered. The pair defeated the Uzbekistan tandem of Alimova and Yuldasheva in an intense match tiebreak, 6-4, 3-6, 10-6, to seal one of the biggest results in Philippine women’s tennis.The win caps a remarkable week for the Filipinas, who finished the group stage atop Group A with a 3-1 record after wins over top-seed Hong Kong, Singapore, and Kyrgyzstan, and a loss to Pacific Oceania.<div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/6/12/philippine-women-s-tennis-team-eyes-group-1-promotion-in-billie-jean-king-cup-2208">‘Ready to fight’: Philippine women’s tennis team eyes Group 1 promotion in Billie Jean King Cup </a> </div>Their top-place Group A finish set up today’s promotion playoff, where they rose to the occasion against Uzbekistan. The Philippine squad, composed of Madis, Rivera, Milliam, and Stefi Marithe Aludo, under head coach Denise Dy and coach Bobie Angelo, has raised the flag for the Philippines in Asia/Oceania Group I, stepping up against the region’s strongest women’s tennis nations teams.

The Philippine women’s tennis team is heading to Group 1 after defeating Uzbekistan in a dramatic promotional playoff tie on Saturday at the National Tennis Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The Philippine women’s tennis team is heading to Group 1 after defeating Uzbekistan in a dramatic promotional playoff tie on Saturday at the National Tennis Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.