NEW YORK — In an unassuming room on the second floor of an Episcopal church in Queens, a large printer hums away, producing colorful posters adorned with bright yellow tennis balls. The walls are decorated with fluorescent prints, and a bible rests on a nearby table while the upbeat song "Salamin, Salamin" by Filipino girl group Bini plays softly from a computer.
This creative space belongs to Pau Tiu, a 32-year-old artist who has dedicated the week to designing and printing posters in support of the rising Filipino tennis sensation, Alex Eala. Just a short distance away, Eala made headlines by defeating American player Mary Stoiana with a decisive score of 6-1, 6-2 in her debut match at the 2026 U.S. Open. Eala is set to face Ukraine’s Oleksandra Oliynykova next, and Tiu’s vibrant posters will be proudly displayed in the stands of Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Alex Eala has been making waves in the tennis world for several years, representing the Philippines with pride. Recently, the 21-year-old achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first Filipino player to win a WTA Tour singles title, triumphing over No. 3 ranked Jessica Pegula at the D.C. Open. As she competes in major tournaments across the globe, the Filipino diaspora has consistently rallied behind her, showing up in large numbers to support their national hero.
The atmosphere at Louis Armstrong Stadium during Eala's match was electric, with fans waving Filipino flags and cheering enthusiastically. Among them was Tiu, who distributed custom posters emblazoned with the phrase “LABAN ALEX,” which translates to “Fight, Alex.” The posters feature the Sampaguita, the national flower of the Philippines, which Eala has sported on her apparel during significant matches, including her breakthrough performance at Wimbledon.
“We’re all connected, cheering her on. It’s such a beautiful thing to be part of,” Tiu expressed as Eala dominated the first set. “It’s incredible to be surrounded by so many Filipinos; it feels like home, filled with a spirit of community, or as we say, kapwa.”
Tiu and their partner, Felize Camille, relocated to the United States two years ago to marry legally, as same-sex marriage remains illegal in the Philippines. The couple had previously concealed their relationship, but now they embrace their love openly. Their journey together includes a memorable secret date to a printing class in Singapore, where they learned risograph printing, a technique that utilizes fluorescent ink and a compact printer. This experience led to the establishment of their studio, Bad Student.
The name reflects Tiu’s philosophy: “It’s the idea of being bad at something first before you get good at it. I’m always a student, always learning, but giving myself permission to be bad allows me to explore freely and enjoy the process.”
Since launching Bad Student, Tiu and Camille have created art and conducted workshops from their church studio, even producing posters for the New York Knicks during the NBA Finals. Tiu has long dreamed of experiencing sports culture in New York, having absorbed it from a distance through media.
When Eala gained attention for her stunning horizontal forehand against Świątek in July, Tiu’s father urged them to create a poster for the budding star. “He has been asking me since Wimbledon,” Tiu recalled, finally fulfilling the request when they secured tickets to Eala’s match.
“This is very much in the language of Filipino design,” Tiu remarked, drawing inspiration from vintage posters they had brought from the Philippines. Following Eala’s match, Tiu returned to their printer to design a new poster for her upcoming match, inspired by a lottery advertisement they had seen in New York.
After finalizing the design, Tiu loaded a drum of yellow ink into the printer, creating another “LABAN ALEX” poster, this time featuring a row of tennis balls. They then sent the design to their brother, Kiko, who runs the Philippines branch of Bad Student, ensuring that the same poster would be printed back home for fans eagerly awaiting updates from the U.S.
“I feel like I’m part of history,” Tiu said. “My family back home is watching every photo and video I send them, and they’re tuning in live too.” Tiu expressed a deep connection to their roots, stating, “The presence of Filipinos here is so strong, and hearing our language everywhere warms my heart. This is part of the magic that is Eala-mania.”
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