FILE – Alex Eala makes history in Paris. Photo from Rafael Nadal Academy
MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Sports Commission on Saturday assured that French Open girls singles semifinalist Alex Eala gets the financial assistance that was promised to her.
PSC executive director Guillermo Iroy said he will personally make sure the documents will be facilitated so checks can be released as quickly as possible.
That is after the agency’s social media posted a congratulatory message on Facebook and also claimed the PSC extended P3 million for her competitions in Europe and the United States.
The post also mentioned another P1.5 million assistance for six international trips starting this year.
But Eala’s mother, Rizza Maniego Eala, vehemently denied such claims in a lengthy rebuttal on her FB page.
The elder Eala said they have not received anything from the PSC although the financial assistance was “promised verbally.”
She said they have “two inches thick” documents including receipts, boarding passes. But when they followed it up, they “were given the run-around” instead.
Iroy said he instructed the PSC accounting to expedite her documents first thing on Monday.
“Anyway, I will personally look into it because she (Alex) still have lots of tournaments coming, she would need funding,” Iroy told the Inquirer.
Eala reached a milestone reaching the French Open Final Four. That feat tied the 15-year-old sensation with tennis legend Felix Barrientos who made the Wimbledon boys singles semis in 1985.
The Rafael Nadal Academy scholar is expected to compete in more and more WTA events in the coming months.