By MARK REY MONTEJO
Nearly three years after their first meet up, Filipina ace Alex Eala was reunited with Fil-American Miami Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra on Tuesday (PH time) ahead of her much-awaited at Miami Open in Florida.
Eala, 20, made the most of her brief respite, visiting anew the Kaseya Center where she met with Spoelstra, the very same mentor who guided the Miami Heat to back-to-back NBA titles in 2012 and 2013 behind basketball icon LeBron James
It was a special moment for two PH pride, especially for Eala after she recently reached her career-best No. 29. She was just 17s years old then and still outside the Top 150 in the world rankings.
Also, during first time they linked up, Eala got the chance to meet Heat star Bam Adebayo, and it coincided with Spoelstra’s 700th career coaching victory off Miami’s 127-120 triumph over the New York Knicks.
“Representing the Philippines at the highest level,” Miami Heat wrote on its social media post.
Prior to her meeting with Spoelstra, who traces his roots to San Pablo, Laguna, Eala also spent time with her cousin, Dr. Michelle Ann Eala, at the iconic Santa Monica State Beach.
Last week, Eala recorded another historic feat in the recently concluded Indian Wells Open (BNP Paribas), which was ruled by Sabalenka off a 3-6, 6-3, 7-6( 8 ) final triumph over Rybakina, in California.
There, the Southeast Asian Games gold medalist had an early bye as well before besting Ukraine’s Dayana Yastremska and hometown bet Gauff (ret.) in the rounds 64 and 32, respectively.
Unfortunately Eala’s promising start was spoiled by a familiar rival in Czech Republic’s Linda Noskova, the very same player she once beat toclaim 2018 Les Petits As U14 crown. The 21-year-old Czech exacted her revenge with a convincing 6-2, 6-0 triumph over the Filipina in the Last 16.
