The bronze medal seemed within reach, but Indonesia proved to be resilient, leaving the Philippines in fourth place in women’s volleyball at the 32nd Southeast Asian Games.
“We gave our best effort, but it wasn’t enough to defeat Indonesia,” said Jorge Edson Souza de Brito the morning after the Filipinas put up a strong fight in the bronze medal match, which Indonesia eventually won in four sets, 25-20, 22-25, 25-22, 25-23, on Sunday at the Olympic Stadium.
Amidst waving flags and cheering fans, the Filipinas displayed great courage against their more experienced opponents, with Tots Carlos leading the charge and saving two match points until the very end.
However, the relentless Indonesians, many of whom wore hijabs while playing, pushed on and secured the bronze medal, handing the Philippines its third loss out of five matches in the preliminary rounds.
“We need to maintain consistency, although it’s worth noting that we’ve made significant improvements such as reducing errors, improving our reception, and increasing our blocking effectiveness,” De Brito commented. “These players faced immense challenges in reaching their best form, and it would be beneficial to retain a core group from this team.”
The national women’s team primarily consists of Creamlime players, including team captain Alyssa Valdez, who had limited playing time due to a knee injury that almost prevented her from joining the team.
Ramon “Tats” Suzara, the president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation, acknowledged the need to further develop the team.
“We will not give up; we will continue to work harder,” Suzara affirmed. “We will actively participate in the international arena.”
During the preliminary rounds, the Philippines secured victories against Cambodia and Singapore, while suffering defeats against regional powerhouses Vietnam, Thailand, and, ultimately, Indonesia in the bronze medal match.
