By MARK REY MONTEJO
Shaira Rivera was outclassed in the first singles match between the Philippines and Pacific Oceania in the 2025 Billie Jean King Cup Asia/Oceania Group II at the National Tennis Centre in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Friday, June 20.
Instead of being dispirited, she used her 6-2, 6-0 defeat to Violet Apisah as her motivation and it did wonders as she and Tennielle Madis pulled off a dramatic 6-7 (12), 7-6 (7), 10-8 win over Violet and Patricia Apisah in the deciding doubles match to help the Nationals escape with a 2-1 victory,
The hard-fought triumph enabled the Philippines to finish at No. 2 in Group B with a 3-1 record and will be pitted against Group topnotcher Mongolia.
The PH-Mongolia promotional playoff clash is being played at press time.
In other playoff duel, Indonesia, which blacked the Philippines on the way to topping Group B, battles Malaysia (3-1).
The winners in both matches securing a spot in the region’s Group I next year where the likes of Asia’s powerhouse teams in China, India, and Thailand await.
Pacific Oceania, on the other hand,was relegated to 5th to 6th play-off where it battles Kyrgyzstan.
Saving the day for Team PH was Alexa Joy Milliam who delivered when it mattered the most, authoring a 6-3, 2-6, 7-6(7) victory over Carollan Delaunay to level the game at 1-1.
It took Rivera and Madis 2 hours and 31 minutes to hurdle their rivals who gamely challenged them right from the get-go by trading one big shot after the other.
Handled by two-time SEAG doubles gold medalist Denise Dy – she partnered with Treat Huey – the Nationals are determined to be promoted to Group I after several failed bids.
