Alas Pilipinas Women Capture First Silver Medal at SEA V Cup with Victory Over Indonesia

The Alas Pilipinas women’s volleyball team redeemed themselves after a winless run in Hanoi by securing their best finish yet at the SEA V Cup on Sunday at Chiang Mai Stadium in Thailand. The Philippines earned its first-ever silver medal in the regional tournament by defeating Indonesia in a hard-fought four-set match, 25-13, 23-25, 25-19, 33-31, during the second leg of the competition.

This runner-up finish came just a week after Indonesia ended the Philippines’ streak of four consecutive bronze medals in the SEA V Cup’s first leg held in Vietnam. The victory marked a significant turnaround for the Filipino squad, which had struggled in the earlier leg but found its rhythm under the guidance of Japanese coach Taka Minowa.

Key returning players from the Alas core, including Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and Eya Laure, played pivotal roles in the team’s success. Team captain and setter Jia De Guzman was instrumental in orchestrating the offense, bringing out the best performances from her teammates. The trio’s combined efforts were especially crucial in the tense fourth set, where Indonesia threatened to push the match into a deciding fifth set.

In that critical fourth set, Solomon delivered a crucial cross-court attack to tie the score at 30-all, saving multiple set points for the Philippines. The decisive moment came when Fifi Sharma executed a block against Indonesia’s Ersandrina Devega, who then missed her final attack attempt, sealing the victory for Alas Pilipinas after a grueling two-hour battle.

Solomon, who was named Best Opposite Spiker in the first leg, led the team with 19 points, all from attacks. Belen and Laure contributed 17 points each, showcasing a balanced offensive attack. Laure continued her strong form, having scored 22 points in the previous day’s stunning win over Vietnam, which ended the Philippines’ seven-year losing streak against that team in the SEA V Cup.

The team’s success was also bolstered by their effective net defense, particularly in the last two matches where they recorded 15 blocks each. This defensive strength proved vital in overcoming tough opponents and securing the silver medal.

Indonesia finished the second leg with a 1-2 record but still has a chance to claim the bronze medal if Vietnam manages to upset Thailand. Thailand, meanwhile, has already secured the gold medal regardless of the outcome of their remaining matches.

Indonesian players Arsela Nuari Purnama and Medi Yoku led their team with 19 and 18 points respectively, while Ersandrina Devega and Chelsa Nurtomo added 13 and 12 points. Despite their efforts, Indonesia fell short against the revitalized Filipino squad.

This silver medal marks a milestone for the Philippines in the SEA V Cup, which began in 2019 as the ASEAN Grand Prix. Prior to this, the Philippines had collected six bronze medals but had never reached the finals. The team’s performance in Chiang Mai signals a promising outlook as they prepare for the upcoming Asian Games in Japan.