Despite showing significant signs of improvement, Alas Pilipinas Women fell short against seven-time champion and host Thailand, 25-17, 24-26, 20-25, 20-25, in the opening leg of the 2025 Southeast Asia V.League on Friday evening at the Ninh Binh Gymnasium in Vietnam.
After dominating the opening set and forcing the Thais into extended play in the second, the Nationals eventually ran out of steam, dropping to a 0-1 record in the four-team tournament that also includes Vietnam and Indonesia.
Alas Pilipinas was determined to finally notch a win over Thailand — a feat they haven’t achieved in competitive international play since 1993.
The Filipinas were also aiming to snap the Thais’ 21-match winning streak in SEA V.League play.
But Thailand’s composure and experience ultimately proved to be the difference against a youthful Filipino squad that welcomed back key players Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and Angel Canino.
It was the trio’s first outing since skipping the team’s fourth-place finish at the 2025 VTV Cup last July.
(C) SAVA
All three were instrumental in the Philippines’ historic silver-medal run at the AVC Women’s Nations Cup last June.
Alas enjoyed a dream start, surging to a 13-8 lead in the first set.
Timely attacks from Fifi Sharma and Canino, coupled with crucial errors from Thailand, helped the Nationals take the early lead in the match.
Their momentum carried into the second set, where they fought back from a 13-17 deficit.
A back-row kill by Eya Laure, a costly error from Pimpichaya Kokram, and an out-of-system spike from Solomon fueled a 5-1 run, handing the Nationals a slim 19-18 edge.
The two sides then traded blows until Laure’s off-the-block hit and a Canino down-the-line kill brought the Filipinas to set point.
However, two consecutive attack errors by Solomon — one that pushed the set into deuce and another that sealed the frame for Thailand — proved costly, allowing the Thais to level the match.
The third set mirrored the second in drama. The Philippines clawed their way back from a 1-9 hole, cutting the deficit to just 20-21.
But Thai setter Pornpun Guedpard took over, scoring the last three points with a block on Vanie Gandler and two consecutive 1-2 plays, giving Thailand a 2-1 set advantage.
Alas once again showed resilience in the fourth frame, trimming a 16-20 deficit to 19-20.
But a running attack from Thai skipper Ajcharaporn Kongyot and another Solomon misfire gave Thailand breathing room.
The Thais then closed out the match with a Hattaya Bamrungsuk running spike, a mishit by Leila Cruz, and a clever dump from Warisara Seetaloed.
(C) SAVA
Solomon paced the Nationals in the loss with 20 points built on 16 points, two blocks, and two aces, while Canino followed closely with 16 points.
Laure added 12 points on nine attacks and three aces, while Sharma chipped in nine points on six attacks and three blocks.
Maddie Madayag and Belen provided six points each in the losing effort.
Alas Pilipinas will look to bounce back on Saturday at 2:30 PM, when they take on regional rival Vietnam at the same venue.
Thailand, meanwhile, kicked off its bid for an eighth straight SEA V.League crown on a high note, joining Vietnam atop the standings with identical 1-0 records.
Kokram powered the Thais with 18 points on 17 attacks and one ace, while Kongyot achieved 13 points.
In the day’s earlier match, Tran Thi Thanh Thuy led Vietnam to a swift 25-11, 25-11, 25-22 victory over Indonesia.
