Shuvee Etrata recalls fangirl moment with Alex Eala after surprise New York encounter

Shuvee Etrata had a memorable fangirl moment when she unexpectedly ran into Filipino tennis star Alex Eala in New York last month.

In Nelson Canlas’ report on “24 Oras” on Thursday, the Sparkle star recalled that she was taking photos at a spot in Soho when someone suddenly called out her name.

“I’m really a fan of Alex. When I was in Soho, New York, I was taking photos against a wall, you know, doing it for the aesthetic, snapping pictures everywhere. Suddenly, someone called out, ‘Shuvee!’ When I heard ‘Shuvee,’ I wondered, ‘Who was that?’” Shuvee recalled in Filipino.

Only then did she realize it was Alex who had recognized her.

“Alex, I really love you. I love you so much. She knows that!” she said, adding that she was thrilled when the young athlete approached her. “She really ran. Alex, I really love you! I love you so much."

Beyond Alex’s beauty and athletic achievements, Shuvee said she was even more impressed by the tennis star’s humility and warmth during their brief encounter.

“Oh my gosh, I totally fangirled. Fangirling at its finest. It turns out she’s really tall. And she is absolutely beautiful.”

The two also got to exchange a few words in Filipino while the people accompanying them spoke in English.

“I’m really, really happy and lucky to have met her,” she added.

Shuvee recently spent some time in New York, one of her dream destinations. She last starred in "The Master Cutter," in which she recently signed off as Tonet.

Meanwhile, Alex is making headlines in the tennis world. She reached the US Open third round for the first time in her young career.

—Jade Veronique Yap/CDC, GMA News