Leo Ordiales bounced back from a shaky start to lead Alas Pilipinas Men past a gritty Myanmar squad, securing their first win at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games on Friday in Bangkok, Thailand.
Ordiales — who struggled in his FIVB World Championship debut — faced a similar rough start in the SEA Games.
This time, though, he ensured it wouldn’t end the same way, bouncing back immediately as the Philippines claimed a 25-23, 25-20, 25-21 victory at the Indoor Stadium Huamark.
The 22-year-old opposite spiker credited his ever-reliable veteran teammates for helping him shake off the slump and regain confidence on the court, allowing him to contribute in crucial moments.
“Nire-remind kami ng mga Kuya namin na ayun, kalmahan lang namin. Masyado kaming gigil — like, laruin lang yung normal game namin para makabalik kami sa laro,” said Ordiales, who made his second appearance in the biennial meet.
The National University ace finished with 10 points on an 8-of-16 attacking clip, adding two aces as the Filipino spikers took the early lead in Pool B with a 1-0 record.
After a rocky first set that saw him replaced by newcomer Al-Bukharie Sali, Ordiales came up big in a tight second frame. Following back-to-back aces, he unleashed a booming back-row hit that capped a 4-0 run, giving the Philippines a crucial 20-16 lead.
When Myanmar threatened to extend the match, cutting Alas’ lead to just 22-21 in the third set, the 6-foot-6 winger from Talisay, Negros Occidental, delivered a thunderous down-the-line hit. That then sparked a 3-0 run that sealed the victory.
“Yung kaba, nandyan naman yun lagi, siyempre, kung paano mo lang iha-handle yung ganong situation. Ewan, siguro, siyempre gigil nga kami talaga maka-medal, kaya siguro sobrang excited. Tsaka yun, yung gigil talaga nandoon,” Ordiales said.
“Siguro next namin ia-adjust siguro yun, tignan namin video namin, tas maging focus lang kami. Medyo nagkakapaan lang kami ulit kanina kasi, siyempre, bago yung court, kaya ayun.”
With the win secured and confidence restored, Ordiales now shifts his focus to Indonesia on Sunday, as the Philippines aim to finish their Pool B campaign as the top seed.
“Siguro po kailangan namin silang paghandaan. Siyempre, hindi naman basta-basta yung team na yun,” he added.
“Kailangan namin magpahinga ngayon para bukas, ensayo kami kung ano yung dapat namin gawin pag kalaban namin sila at yung mindset.”
