Team Lakay fighters shine in Asian Games

Manila Times - Sep 24, 2026

BAGUIO CITY — Team Lakay fighters Jean Claude “The Dynamite” Saclag and Carlos “The Limitless” Alvarez carried the fight for the Philippines after winning silver and bronze medals, respectively, in the mixed martial arts (MMA) competition of the 2026 Asian Games. Saclag secured the silver medal in the men’s under 65-kilogram traditional MMA division, while Alvarez took bronze in the -77kg category. The medals marked the Philippines’ first podium finishes in MMA at the Asian Games, which introduced the sport to its competition program this year. Saclag and Alvarez were among the Philippine athletes selected to compete in the inaugural Asian Games event. Both fighters earned their places in the national team after impressive performances in the 4th AMMA World Championship in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, earlier this year. Saclag won the gold medal in his division, while Alvarez claimed bronze. The two Team Lakay fighters subsequently underwent preparations for their Asian Games campaign before competing in Nagoya. Saclag’s silver gave the Philippines its first silver medal in MMA at the Asian Games, while Alvarez added the country’s second bronze medal in the sport. Their finishes also established the Philippines among the medal-winning nations in the inaugural Asian Games MMA competition. Fight fans claimed the podium finishes added another milestone to...

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Eala stunned by Prozorova at Singapore Open
Sep 24, 2026

Eala stunned by Prozorova at Singapore Open

MANILA, Philippines — World No. 180 Tatiana Prozorova of Russia pulled the rug from under Alex Eala of the Philippines, 4-6, 7-5, 6-3, in the round of 16 of the 2026 Singapore Open on Thursday night at the Kallang Stadium in Singapore. Eala is ranked 18th in the world, received a first-round bye and seeded No. 3 in the tournament. Prozorova, on the other hand, is making her first appearance as a direct entry in a WTA 500 event. In an arena filled with dominant Filipino spectators, Prozorova understood that she was facing the darling of the crowd and a tough competitor. The Russian challenged the Filipina in the first frame after sending the match to seven deuces but Eala recovered and won 2/6 of the break points for a 6-4 decision. It took 67 minutes for Eala to fend off Prozorova in the opening set. The Russian, however, showed patience in the second frame. After being down, 4-2, Prozorova turned things around and added more variety in her swings to regain the lead, 5-4. Eala tried to claw back, but Prozorova showed more accuracy in her shots to even the count at 1-all. The 22-year-old Russian showed impeccable forehand swings and countered Eala’s attacks that allowed her to enjoy a 2-0 advantage in the third set. The 21-year-old Eala refused to back down in the fight and won three games in a row for a 3-2 lead. But Prozorova refused to give up and outhustled Eala the rest of the way. Prozorova was emotional after the win and was seen crying as she shook Eala's hand. She has not beaten any player in the WTA Top 40 before. With her early exit in Singapore, Eala will now shift her focus on her games in the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan starting next week.