Camille Naredo

Team Philippines at the Billie Jean King Cup. Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

TENNIS

Dyan Castillejo

ABS-CBN News

<div><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/1782131900602HLJrZZ0akAARQlU.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960" alt="Team Philippines at the Billie Jean King Cup. Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News"/>Team Philippines at the Billie Jean King Cup. Dyan Castillejo, ABS-CBN News</div>MANILA -- When the Philippines secured their promotion to the Asia/Oceania Group I in Kuala Lumpur, the first call Shaira Hope Rivera made was to the country&#x27;s top player, Alex Eala.“Nung nanalo na po kami sa doubles, tinawagan ko po si Alex para sabihin sa kanya na nanalo po kami,” Rivera said. “Cheer din niya po kami sa group chat.”Eala was a continent away, in the middle of her own <a class="fr-strong fr-green" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/sports/othersports/2026/6/22/tennis-alex-eala-rises-to-world-no-30-after-run-to-berlin-semis-1713">historic run at the Berlin Tennis Open</a>. But according to Alexa Joy Milliam, the distance never showed.“Sobrang supportive talaga niya. Everyday, kahit sabay yung tournament niya sa Berlin at yung BJK Cup namin, nag-uusap po kaming lima,” she said.It was a fitting symbol of what carried the Philippine Billie Jean King Cup team through their campaign, even across time zones.The squad was led by team captain Denise Dy, coach Bobbie Angelo, and players Tenny Madis, Milliam, Stefi Aludo, and Rivera.Yesterday, they touched down at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 1 to a warm welcome, bringing home more than just results.Angelo wasted no time crediting everyone who made the campaign possible.“Maraming tumulong para mabuo itong team na ito. And of course, itong mga bata. Sobrang nagpakahirap. They did their best. So we made it. Thank you,” he said.The road was not easy. The Philippines drew top seed Hong Kong in their very first tie, a daunting opener that Angelo said set the tone for the entire campaign.“Opening match pa lang natin, Hong Kong na. Scary pero laban lang. Itong mga girls natin nanalo naman. Next round is Singapore. Magagaling din po pero nanalo pa rin,” he recalled.Through every tough match, the players leaned on each other. Rivera said the team’s closeness was their greatest weapon.“Sobrang close namin as a team,” she said. “Pinu-push lang namin yung isa’t isa. Kapag nakita namin na pagod na yung naglalaro, andun kami sa baba cheering. The whole tournament, yun yung ginagawa namin sa isa’t isa.”Madis, who started every singles match for the squad, echoed that unity.“Gumapang lang po talaga kami. Pinu-push po namin yung isa’t isa. Yung teamwork po talaga namin is super close,” she said.Milliam added that the team never felt pressure to be perfect. Instead they focused to give everything they had.“Marami pong magagaling doon, lalo na yung Hong Kong. Hindi po namin in-expect na manalo rin po kami. Binibigay lang po namin yung best namin,” she said.One of the campaign’s highlights was the doubles pairing of Milliam and Rivera, former teammates at the University of West Alabama, whose chemistry proved crucial in sealing the promotion.Even the newer combination of Milliam and Aludo delivered in key moments despite limited time playing together.“We just enjoyed our game,” Milliam said. “Hindi po namin in-expect yung chemistry namin kasi first time rin po naming magkasama.”The team also drew strength from supporters both in Malaysia and back home. Madis made sure to acknowledge every one of them.“Maraming salamat po sa mga Pilipino na sumuporta sa amin sa Malaysia at dito sa Pilipinas, lalo na sa mga pamilya namin,” she said. Rivera added: “Sa lahat po ng prayers, especially our families, laking tulong po iyon sa amin.”Milliam singled out the Filipino community in Kuala Lumpur, including Philippine Ambassador to Malaysia Maria Angela Ponce.“Thank you po sa mga nanood sa Kuala Lumpur. Lalo na po yung Ambassador ng Philippines sa Malaysia. Grabeng tulong po iyon,” she said.Aludo had a message for Filipinos who made the trip and those who cheered from afar.“Sa nag-effort sa KL po na mga Filipinos po roon, sobrang salamat po talaga sa support nyo. Dito rin po sa Pilipinas!” she said.Looking ahead, Rivera and Milliam are set to return to the United States on June 26 for their next tournaments, while Aludo and Madis will continue training at the Philippine Tennis Academy and compete in local events, including an upcoming PHILTA tournament in Lucena.Coach Angelo already has his sights set on the Asia/Oceania Group I competition next April — and is hoping the full team, including Eala, can suit up together at the Asian Games in September.“Group I na tayo next year,” Angelo said. “We’ll do our best again.”“Hoping sila, itong mga bata, mapasama lahat yan, same team, with Alex,” he added.The players responded with the only answer needed. “Laban!”

When the Philippines secured their promotion to the Asia/Oceania Group I in Kuala Lumpur, the first call Shaira Hope Rivera made was to Alex Eala.

When the Philippines secured their promotion to the Asia/Oceania Group I in Kuala Lumpur, the first call Shaira Hope Rivera made was to Alex Eala.

Philippine BJK Cup team returns home after historic Group I promotion

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Philippine BJK Cup team returns home after historic Group I promotion

Dyan Castillejo,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 22, 2026 08:41 PM PHT

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tennis

BJK Cup

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