Asian Games: Alex Eala, Shaira Rivera oust Hong Kong pair to reach doubles Round 2 - GMA Network

Alex Eala and Shaira Rivera flexed their might to pull off a 6-1, 6-3 win over Hong Kong's Lai Ching Laam and Kallista Liu in the women's doubles first round in the 2026 Asian Games on Tuesday in Japan.

Eala and Rivera conceded the opening game but quickly took control, winning the next six to pull away from the Hong Kong duo before carrying the momentum into the second set to escape Lai and Liu.

Eala and Rivera, who are teaming up for the first time in a doubles event, will next face China’s Jiang Xinyu and Yang Zhaoxuan in the second round.

The Pinay tandem started off on the wrong foot after Lai and Liu drew first blood following an attack error from Rivera. But the 27-year-old Rivera atoned for that in the next plays, including a forehand winner that allowed the Philippines to take a 5-1 lead.

Eala's backhand gave them an advantage point in Game 7 before Hong Kong failed to counter a strong return from Rivera as the Filipinas sealed Set 1 emphatically.

Hong Kong mounted a fierce fight in Set 2, forcing a 2-2 deadlock after surviving Eala and Rivera in an extended Game 4.

But the Filipina tandem did not allow the Hong Kong pair to stage anymore momentum after that, with Rivera unleashing a loaded serve that forced a return error from Lai to clinch Game 7 and the match point, 5-2.

Hong Kong flipped the switch in the next game with Liu unloading back-to-back forehand winners before a Rivera error allowed them to take Game 8 and extend the match, 5-3.

The Filipinas made sure to put the punctuation in the next game with Eala sending a powerful backhand and Rivera releasing the game-winning shot.