Facebook Instagram Linkedin X Youtube
Home Blog Page 6703

Shakey’s opens first store in Singapore

SHAKEY’s Pizza Asia Ventures, Inc. announced that it opened its first outlet in Lucky Plaza Mall along Orchard Road, Singapore.

The store was franchised to Brenrich Pte. Ltd, a food court operator in Singapore, under a seven-year franchise agreement forged in 2021.

“As we continue to scale up our store network, we hope that this will serve as a springboard for international growth,” Shakey’s President and Chief Executive Officer Vicente L. Gregorio said in a statement on Wednesday.

To date, Shakey’s has five international stores, four of which are in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Brenrich Director Wong Bang Ming said: “We are excited to finally be serving Shakey’s Pizza’s all-time family favorites here in Singapore. Guests have been in high anticipation since we announced the coming of Shakey’s.”

In 2021, Shakey’s began its store network expansion program, opening more than 30 stores nationwide and a store in the UAE. It implemented more “innovative store formats,” which includes ghost kitchens, smaller store models geared towards off-premise, multi-branded stores, and drive-thru concepts.

“The operating environment for the past two years has been tough. We had to make strategic pivots to turn the business around, but all the while, we kept our eyes on the prize — sustainable long-term growth,” said Mr. Gregorio.

At the stock exchange on Wednesday, Shakey’s shares rose by 2.65% or 21 centavos to P8.12 apiece. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Smart Communications launches all-in-one GIGA Arena

By John Bryan Ulanday

NATIONAL esports team backer Smart Communications, Inc., further bolstered its mission for the country’s esports promotion and development with the launch of GIGA Arena.

Registration started on Wednesday for the historic GIGA Arena as the first all-in-one esports platform in the Philippines aimed at serving as a training ground for future world-class players.

Through Giga Arena on gigarena.smart, all TnT and Smart customers will enjoy an exclusive battlefield to compete with other players in daily, weekly and monthly tournaments with prestige and cash prizes also at stake on top of their training and development.

GIGA Arena is Smart’s newest innovation in the booming esports movement after its full backing to Sibol, the national esports squad, for their campaign in the 31st Southeast Asian (SEA) Games.

Featured in GIGA Arena are popular online games Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Wild Rift and PUBG Mobile, which are among the eight SEA Games esports titles in Hanoi in May.

Call of Duty: Mobile (CODM) is also in the GIGA Arena fray though it’s not included in the SEA Games esports event that the Philippines is eyeing to rule anew after winning the inaugural edition in 2019.

Aside from GIGA Arena and Sibol, Smart is also supporting leagues like The Nationals, Liga Adarna and MLBB Pro League-Philippines (MPL-PH) with mobile game developer Moonton.

GIGA Arena, in partnership with global esports company LEET Entertainment, is powered by Smart’s 5G network recognized by Ookla, the global leader in mobile and broadband intelligence, as the country’s fastest mobile network.

“Through GIGA Arena, we are giving mobile gamers a venue to showcase their skills and talents, which many of them devote time and effort to hone. This is aligned with our commitment to enable our subscribers to pursue their passions and live the Giga Life,” said Jane J. Basas, SVP and Head of Consumer Wireless Business at Smart.

Yields on BSP’s term deposits end higher due to Ukraine crisis

BW FILE PHOTO

YIELDS on the central bank’s term deposits climbed on Wednesday after the peso sharply weakened and due to concerns on the impact of the Russian invasion to local commodity prices.

Total bids for the term deposit facility (TDF) of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) amounted to P417.154 billion on Wednesday, surpassing the P410-billion offer but lower than the P456.539 billion in tenders last week.

Broken down, tenders for the seven-day papers reached P161.403 billion, higher than the P160 billion auctioned off by the central bank but failing to beat the P186.711 billion in bids the previous Wednesday.

Accepted rates ranged from 1.662% to 2.384%, a tighter band compared with the 1.65% to 2.39% seen a week earlier. This caused the average rate of the one-week papers to increase by 22.39 basis points (bps) to 1.9525% from 1.7286% previously.

Meanwhile, demand for the 14-day deposits stood at P255.751 billion, going beyond the P250-billion offer but lower than the P269.828 billion in tenders a week ago.

Banks asked for yields ranging from 1.7060% to 2.384%, slimmer than the 1.68% to 2.39% band seen on March 2. With this, the average rate of the two-week papers rose by 16.73 bps to 2.0651% from 1.8978% in the prior auction.

The BSP has not auctioned off 28-day term deposits for more than a year to give way to its weekly offering of securities with the same tenor.

The term deposits and the 28-day bills are used by the BSP to mop up excess liquidity in the financial system and to better guide market rates.

TDF yields increased due to market concerns as the peso hit its weakest in two years, Rizal Commercial Banking Corp. Chief Economist Michael L. Ricafort said in a Viber message.

The peso closed at P52.32 on Tuesday, the third straight day it finished at the P52-per-dollar level due to safe-haven demand for the dollar as tensions between Ukraine and Russia deepened. This was its worst finish since it ended at P52.231 on Aug. 28, 2019.

Mr. Ricafort added that TDF yields rose as markets priced in the impact of the war in Ukraine to global commodities like oil and its impact to inflation.

On Tuesday, gasoline, diesel and kerosene prices increased by P3.60, P5.85, and P4.10 a barrel.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board is looking into petitions to raise the minimum jeepney fare. The agency on Tuesday held a hearing to temporarily restore the minimum fare to P10 from P9, while petitions to raise the base fare to P14-P15 have yet to be decided on.

BSP Governor Benjamin E. Diokno has said inflation may breach their 2-4% target in the second quarter due to the continued increase in oil prices, although he expects inflation to return to within target in the next two quarters.

The central bank expects inflation this year to average at 3.7% versus its 2-4% target. In 2021, the consumer price index was at 4.5% amid low supply of food, which caused prices to shoot up. — Luz Wendy T. Noble

Going digital to help small businesses evolve — Zoho

TRUSTPAIR.COM

By Arjay L. Balinbin, Senior Reporter

MICRO, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines, where digitalization is seen “less prevalent,” should look at multinational  companies and industry leaders as role models in developing their human capital, multinational technology company Zoho Corp. said.

“According to a survey by the Department of Trade and Industry, 56% of MSMEs do not have a web, social or e-commerce presence and only 10% have used advanced digital tools such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) or big data as part of their business model,” Zoho Corp. Vice-President and General Manager for Asia-Pacific Gibu Matthew told BusinessWorld in a recent e-mail interview.

For businesses to survive in a post pandemic world, he said they must continuously adapt and future-proof.

At the same time, he noted that upskilling and reskilling the work force during a pandemic is a hurdle for all businesses.

The supply chain and logistics sector is seen as among the most active in terms of upskilling and reskilling their work force.

Construction, information technology-business process management, tourism, health and wellness, food, manufacturing, and creative design industries are also “poised for transformation as digitalization is already in progress and investment in reskilling and upskilling workers already on the job would make the most business sense,” Mr. Matthew said.

But reskilling and upskilling workers can cost a business “as much as six times more” to hire from the outside than to build internally.

“In a depressed market, those savings at scale allow mid-market businesses to invest in innovation, and by saving both the time and money it takes to recruit from the outside, they can more quickly and efficiently adapt to disruptions in their industry,” the industry executive said.

He advised enterprise owners to take a step back and consider their employees’ potential to determine the course for maximum value to the organization.

“The axiom ‘know thyself’ rings true, and knowing the strengths and weaknesses of their current strategy and business approach would be the best starting points for businesses to consider. This is where businesses need to be critical and comprehend if their existing unified technology platform are sufficient to enable human resource teams to measure and monitor the performance and general morale of people,” he said.

“Choosing the right cloud platform for employee experience and collaboration could make or break the organization’s strategy, as not every cloud platform is built equal. The right unified technology platform allows enterprises to take full control of their cloud and achieve realistic, tangible and measurable results, and should not be mere ephemeral concepts in a binary world,” he added.

Michelin Guide suspends restaurant recommendations in Russia

MICHELIN said on Friday that its world-famous guide would suspend all restaurant recommendations in Russia in response to Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine.

All development projects in Russia were now frozen, it said in a statement, adding that all social media and online activity in Russia was also on hold.

“Given the severity of the current crisis, the teams of the Michelin Guide have had to take the decision to suspend all restaurant recommendation activities in Russia,” Michelin said.

Michelin in 2021 published its first selection for Moscow, which included nine restaurants that were awarded its coveted stars, a distinction seen as proof of ranking among the best restaurants of the world.

“We have made the choice not to promote Moscow as a destination,” Michelin said. “As a result, the Moscow selection will not be updated this year.”

Michelin’s Moscow Guide, the only one in Russia, currently includes 69 restaurants.

The Guide, developed at the beginning of the 20th century by French tire maker Michelin as a handy glove box companion when on the road, is one of the world’s most influential rankings for restaurants and hotels, with many country and city editions.

Michelin Guides are published annually, so any mention or star has to be renewed each year.

A Michelin spokesperson said that it was too early to tell if the Guide would put a permanent end to its Russia activities.

In the news release, Michelin said that “in no way do these decisions call into question the talent of the teams and chefs.”

JACK DANIEL’S MAKERPAUSES HIRING IN RUSSIA
Meanwhile, Jack Daniel’s maker Brown-Forman Corp. said last week that it has paused hiring for its own distribution business in Russia following the country’s invasion of Ukraine.

The company, which gets about 1% of its sales from Russia and has about 80 employees in the country, said on an earnings call that it had initially planned to hire more workers for its own distribution business there, which was set to be operational in July.

Currently, Brown-Forman sells its spirits and wine through third-party sellers in Russia. The company did not comment on whether it would stop sales in the country.

Earlier, Brown-Forman’s European peer Diageo paused exports to both the countries and said its priority is the safety of its people in Ukraine and the wider region. — Reuters

FEU to invest P70M in Good Samaritan Colleges

FAR Eastern University, Inc. (FEU) on Wednesday announced that it had forged a memorandum of understanding with the Good Samaritan Colleges, Inc. (GSC) in Cabanatuan City to acquire 34% of the latter’s total outstanding capital stock.

The partnership will “also allow both schools to partner together in expanding the educational offerings and operations of GSC,” FEU said in its disclosure to the exchange.

It said the memorandum, which was signed on March 8, expresses FEU’s intent to invest up to P70 million in GSC, a private educational institution.

The two parties will also work on a business program that will be offered to GSC students starting school year 2022-23.

“No other definitive agreements have been signed pending further discussions and the conduct of due diligence,” FEU said.

FEU operates Far Eastern University in Manila and is the majority shareholder of East Asia Computer Center, Inc.; FEU Alabang, Inc.; Far Eastern College Silang, Inc.; FEU High School, Inc.; and Roosevelt College, Inc.

The company also holds a 51% share in Edustria, Inc., a senior high school in Batangas, which it operates in partnership with Technological Institute of the Philippines, Inc., owner of the remaining 49%.

On Jan. 24, FEU signed a memorandum of agreement with the Ministry of Health of Brunei Darussalam, and Jerudong Park Medical Centre Sendirian Berhad, a private company in Brunei Darussalam.

The parties agreed to cooperate in the proposed joint venture, which will establish, manage, and operate a private nursing school in Brunei Darussalam.

Shares in FEU dropped a peso or 0.19% to close at P536 apiece on Wednesday. — Marielle C. Lucenio

Sydney FC routs Kaya FC-Iloilo, 5-0, in AFC Champions League

SYDNEY FC dashed Kaya FC-Iloilo’s dream of making a second straight appearance in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League main tournament with a comprehensive 5-0 romp in Tuesday’s Preliminary Round Playoff at the Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in Sydney.

Amid strong winds and torrential rain, the A-League powerhouse went on a four-goal rampage in the second half to put the game beyond Kaya’s reach after holding a slim 1-nil advantage in the first 45 minutes.

Sydney advanced to the ACL group stage with two-time winner Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of Korea, Yokohama F Marinos and Japan and Hoang Anh Gia of host Vietnam in Group H.

With the loss, Kaya shifts its focus to the AFC Cup, the second-tier club competition in the continent, where it joins Indonesia’s Bali United, Malaysia’s Kedah Darul Aman and Cambodia’s Visakha FC in Group G.

Trent Buhagiar fired Sydney’s opening goal at the half-hour mark, sending the ball home after Kaya keeper Zach Banzon’s initial save against Kosta Barbarouses’ attempt.

As the conditions got tougher coming off the break, the host Sky Blues opened the floodgates with Brazilian stiker Bobo and sub Adam le Fondre netting a brace apiece.

Bobo scored on a poacher’s finish in the 47th then converted a penalty two minutes after. His reliever, Le Fondre, picked it up from there and converted a header in the 71st and a wind-altered goal kick in the 81st. — Olmin Leyba

BPI launches subscription-based platform for small businesses

BW FILE PHOTO

BANK of the Philippine Islands (BPI) launched a subscription-based business platform with financial management tools for micro-, small-, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).

The app, which is available for mobile download, is offered for monthly or annual terms of services for a minimum of P50 and P100 per month for basic and premium plans, BPI said in a statement.

“Unlike in other platforms available in the market now, some of them require deposit balances. With BizKo, we employ a different business model, which is a subscription model. It also has a pay-as-you-go finance scheme for financial transactions,” Ana Maria C. Sison, head of transaction banking at BPI, said at the virtual launch of the app.

Business owners that have accounts with BPI can use the services offered through the platform. They will not be required to present any additional documentary requirements as the process is fully online.

“MSMEs can handle everyday financial and accounting processes without the need to move funds to another e-wallet or bank account, or physically go to the branch. This helps in streamlining the cash flow to and from their partners and customers for more accurate and hassle-free monitoring,” the bank said.

The platform allows businesses to collect payments from their customers through features like invoicing, request money, payment link, and the payment portals of both BPI online and BizKo.

It also enables various payment transfers for bills, government agencies, and employees as well as customized financial reports.

“We do think that it will work well with those that have retail customers. It can also be used for government payments, everybody needs to pay their suppliers, so it can be used across industries,” said Eric Roberto M. Luchangco, BPI business banking head.

He said while the MSME sector was affected by the crisis worse than their larger clients, their portfolio “continues to be performing quite well.”

“We look to continue to grow our business and we think that especially with many areas moving into Alert Level 1, we expect the business to continue to grow this year,” Mr. Luchangco said.

BPI’s net profit rose by 11.5% year on year to P23.88 billion in 2021. This, as its lower provision for loan losses and higher fee income offset the decline in interest earnings

The Ayala-led lender’s shares closed at P93.25 apiece on Wednesday, up by P2.25 or 2.47%. — Luz Wendy T. Noble

Apple launches iPhone SE with 5G, Mac Studio computer with faster chip

REUTERS

NEW YORK —  Apple, Inc. on Tuesday added fifth-generation (5G) connectivity to its low-cost iPhone SE and iPad Air and introduced a faster chip for a new desktop, a high point in Apple’s move to power its devices with microprocessors designed in house.

The new Studio desktop starts at $3,999 with the new M1 Ultra chip. The iPad Air also got Apple’s M1 chip that was developed for laptops.

“Apple Silicon strategy is the key highlight,” said analyst Neil Shah of Counterpoint Research. “Apple is scaling the portfolio of its in-house semiconductor capabilities to power a broader set of richer devices from affordable iPhone SE to the most powerful product Mac Studio.”

Apple’s Mac Pro still runs on Intel Corp. microprocessors.

Apple slightly hiked the price on the iPhone SE to $429 from $399 for the previous model. The new phone starts shipping March 18.

The iPhone SE comes with an A15 Bionic chip, which Apple says is the fastest among competition, a 4.7-inch retina display and a home button with Touch ID.

“This is important for our existing users who want a smaller iPhone at a great value,” Chief Executive Tim Cook said.

Nabila Popal, an analyst at IDC, said the new iPhone SE will cater to consumers looking for a budget 5G device, and it could be particularly popular given the economic uncertainty caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

“A cheaper iPhone with 5G is good news for Apple, especially in these times of uncertainty,” Ms. Popal said.

But demand for larger screens could negatively impact iPhone SE sales, Ms. Popal added. Some consumers might instead opt for older iPhone models with bigger screens in the same price range.

The M1 Ultra is made by connecting two M1 Max chips and is eight times faster than M1 chips. Its first use will be in the creative professional-focused Mac Studio computer.

Apple will offer two versions of the Mac Studio, one with the M1 Max chip and the other utilizing the M1 Ultra chip.

Mac Studio pricing starts at $1,999 for the version with the M1 Max chip and $3,999 for the M1 Ultra loaded computer.

Apple also debuted a new monitor called Studio Display that can be paired with any Mac, including Macbook Air and Macbook Pro models, and which is priced at $1,599.

Apple shares were about flat for the day in mid-afternoon trading.

The company which has been broadening its services and other products also said its Apple TV+ product would begin showing Major League Baseball games on Friday nights. The weekly double header will be available in eight countries.

The new iPad Air gets its first refresh in two years with a new design, 5G connectivity and the M1, popular in MacBooks. The starting price remained $599 and it will be available starting March 18.

The new iPad Air also features a 12-megapixel front camera.

Apple also announced new iPhone 13 models in two new finishes, including alpine green.

During the presentation, Mr. Cook made no mention of the conflict in Ukraine. Apple said on March 1 it had paused all product sales in Russia in response to the Russian invasion. The Russian state media, RT News and Sputnik News are no longer available for download from the Apple Store outside Russia.

Russia calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation.” — Reuters

Dining In/Out (03/10/22)

BT21-themed fondant cake, SHOOKY

Goldilocks launches BT21 Fondant Cakes

GOLDILOCKS has become the first official licensor of BT21 cakes in the Philippines and has launched its line of BT21-themed fondant cakes. The BT21 Fondant Character Cakes — which are butter cakes covered in fondant and come as individual characters, namely Koya, RJ, Shooky, Mang, Chimmy, Tata, Cooky, and Van — are currently available for pre-order within National Capital Region and Rizal in three ways: 1.) online via Goldilocksdelivery.com.ph, 2.) through the Goldilocks Hotline at 8888-1999, and, 3.) by joining the Goldilocks Viber Community bit.ly/joingoldiviber. Orders should be made three days in advance. The Goldilocks BT21 cakes also come in special BT21 packaging, which can be collected. Goldilocks BT21 Fondant Cakes are now available for pre-order at these selected stores: Market! Market!, SM City Grand Central, Pasong Tamo, Gatchalian Parañaque, SM Centerpoint, Grandmall, SM Megamall, SM Mall of Asia, SM Fairview, and SM Bicutan. For more information about the Goldilocks BT21 Cakes, follow @GoldilocksPH on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or visit the official Goldilocks website at www.goldilocks.com.ph.

Sheraton Manila Bay celebrates Women’s Month

SHERATON Manila Bay marks Women’s Month with its Chocolate Fudge Decadent Cake of the Month (P1,200 net). Pair it with a beverage of your choice which comes complimentary for every purchase of a whole cake. Moreover, female visitors at the Sheraton Kiosk may also avail of the Buy 1, Take 1 deal on coffees, cold brews, and grab & go juices until March 31. The Chocolate Fudge Decadent Cake is also available at the Culinary Courier. View the menu at bit.ly/ccmnlsb. Twenty-four hours advance reservation is required. To order call 5318-0788, 0917-583-7294, 0917-583-7326 or e-mail sh.mnlsb.fnb@sheraton.com. The Sheraton Kiosk is located at Robinsons Place Manila, Mall Entrance, Padre Faura Wing.

SaladStop! offers Daily Bowls subscription program

SALADSTOP! patrons can now schedule their meals days ahead with Daily Bowls by SaladStop! — a subscription program that offers fuss-free daily deliveries of fresh, healthy bowls and wraps. The subscription program is currently available in Metro Manila only, with the following hubs accepting orders: Central Square, Greenhills, Alabang Town Center, Salcedo Village, UP Town Center, Ortigas, TriNoma, and Chino Roces (Cloud Kitchen). Depending on one’s preferences and goals, customers can choose from a three-day and a five-day plan. Starting at P1,135, the three-day plan follows a Monday, Wednesday, and Friday schedule, while a five-day plan runs from Monday to Friday with subscriptions starting at P1,865. Aside from SaladStop!’s Signature items which will be available throughout the week, customers have dibs on new and Exclusive items, specially crafted bowls (and wraps) for their Friday selections. Sign up between Monday to Saturday and the Daily Bowls subscription starts immediately the following week. Complete the subscription by choosing from any of the following payment methods: e-Wallet (GCash or GrabPay) or Credit Card (Visa or Mastercard). Prepared fresh daily, the daily bowls will be delivered straight to your door, with no need to separately book a delivery service. While delivery fees have been built into the subscription plan, additional fees may apply for long distance deliveries. Early subscribers get a 10% discount by signing up by March 12. Delivery of subscriptions will start on March 14. Know more about SaladStop! and the nutritional information of the salad bowls and wraps, visit www.SaladStop.ph.

Mimi & Bros offers free birthday pizzas for March

MIMI & BROS celebrates its fourth birthday this month by offering free pizza to customers born in March. The free pizza is Mimi & Bros signature Pepperoni Dirty Bird Pizza. Customers who are born in March can avail themselves of one free signature Mimi & Bros Pepperoni Dirty Bird Pizza when they purchase any food from Mimi & Bros’ menu. No minimum amount is required. To avail of the promo, customers must present proof of birth through a valid ID (a government ID, a company ID, passport, etc.). The customer must then like or follow Mimi & Bros on Facebook or Instagram. A screenshot is enough to serve as proof. The promo is valid for any food purchase and is exclusive only for in-store purchases. Those in groups must bear in mind that a maximum of two free Dirty Bird Pizzas may be claimed per group. The restaurant is open for al fresco dining from 11 a.m. to midnight on weekdays and 7 a.m. to midnight on weekends at Crossroads BGC, 32nd St., BGC, Taguig.

McDonald’s offers new Happy Meal program for summer

MCDONALD’S is offering a new Happy Meal program called “Summer Full of Wonders.” Children will get a surprise toy or book with every Happy Meal. They can also get a new Wonder Apron by adding P50 to any Happy Meal order. These limited-edition McDonald’s-themed aprons are perfect for playtime, and arts and crafts. There are five Wonder Apron designs: the iconic McDonald’s Burger, world famous Fries, Chicken McDo, McSpaghetti, and Drink. Watch out for select drive-through stores dressed up with summer-themed decorations. Order the Happy Meals via Drive-Through, Dine-In, or Take Out until March 29 to avail of the promo.

Leisure & Resorts World to raise P2B for online expansion

LEISURE & Resorts World Corp. (LRWC) said it is planning to raise P2.1 billion to support the company’s growth and plans for virtual expansions.

On March 7, the board of directors approved a private placement on the company’s unissued capital stock of 1.27 billion common shares at an issue price of P1.65 per share, which is expected to raise a total of P2.1 billion.

The funds will be used to develop the company’s online platform to provide clients with “new and better gaming experiences,”  LRWC said in a disclosure on Wednesday.

“Furthermore, part of the funds will also be used to finance the operational and capital expenditures of the company, and to lower down the company’s overall debts by paying off some of the loans,” it added.

In January, LWRC launched BingoPlus, an online platform for traditional bingo.

Among its subsidiaries is AB Leisure Exponent, Inc. (ABLE), which provides amusement and recreation to the public in traditional, electronic, pull tabs and rapid bingo games. As of December 2020, ABLE and its subsidiaries and affiliates operate around 10,978 machines in 151 affiliated bingo parlors.

The company also owns 100% of Total Gamezone Xtreme, Inc., which is the assignee and purchaser of the assets, rights, and interests of Digiwave Solutions, Inc., which in turn is the operator and licensee of the eGames stations of the Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corp.

In the third quarter of 2021, LRWC trimmed its attributable net loss to P106.9 million from the P284.6-million loss the year before.

From the January-to-September period, attributable net loss was at P465.2 million, down from a loss of P785.5 million in 2020.

At the stock exchange, LRWC shares dropped by 1.47% or P0.02 to P1.34. — Luisa Maria Jacinta C. Jocson

Filipino ace Eala moves up to no. 571 in WTA ranking

ALEX EALA — ALEX EALA

ALEX M. Eala slightly moved up in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) ladder after gallant stands in three straight tournaments in France.

From 580th last week, the Filipina wunderkind leapt to No. 571 in the women’s pro circuit catapulted by a Round of 16 finish in the W25 Joue les Tours over the weekend.

She had a similar finish in the tougher W60 Grenoble after settling for a first-round exit in the W25 Macon.

Ms. Eala’s career-high ranking in the WTA so far only in her second season was at 505th last August after starting outside Top 1500.

The 16-year-old ace is back in the Rafael Nadal Academy in Spain, where she’s a scholar, to prepare for her next tourney.

In the International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior rankings, Ms. Eala is currently 10th despite not playing in a single girls’ tournament so far this year. — John Bryan Ulanday

1...6,7026,7036,704...14,244Page 6,703 of 14,244
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
© 2024 BusinessWorld Publishing.
All rights reserved.
Read our privacy guidelines
Facebook Instagram Linkedin X Youtube