Alas Pilipinas Women flew into Bangkok with hope in their eyes — only to be met by a ruthless storm.
The Filipina spikers endured a harsh welcome in their SEA Games debut, falling in straight sets, 11-25, 17-25, 16-25, to host and defending champion Thailand in the women’s volleyball competition of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games on Thursday at the Indoor Stadium Huamark.
The loss puts the Philippines in a must-win situation against Singapore in the three-team Pool A on Friday at 6:30 p.m., at the same venue.
Riding momentum from a hard-fought second set, Alas Pilipinas kept pace with Thailand early in the third. But Chatchu-on Moksri, Sasipapron Janthawisut, and Pornpun Guedpard combined for a 3–0 run, extending Thailand’s lead to 17-11.
Dell Palomata scored off a strong block on Janthawisut’s back-row attack, and Angel Canino hammered a cross-court hit to stop the bleeding for the Filipinas. However, Kuttika Kaewpin responded with a point that restored Thailand’s six-point cushion at 19-13.
Canino and Alyssa Solomon tried to rally Alas Pilipinas, but it wasn’t enough. Pimpichaya Kokram and Thatdao Nuekjang helped seal the win, with a down-the-line hit and an ace, respectively, as Kokram added back-to-back points to cap a 5–0 finishing surge, securing the host’s sweep.
“First match in the SEA Games was not the way that we expected but we [still] have a lot to deliver for the country, still,” said Alas Pilipinas head coach Jorge Souza de Brito.
“Tomorrow’s gonna be different and of course, the next three matches that we have, we’re gonna deliver much more than today. We’re gonna study what happened (tonight) but the chemistry is hard. We’re gonna find this in the next two matches,” he added.
The Thais raced out of the gates to start the match, turning a slim 10-7 lead into a commanding 17-7 advantage with a 7-0 surge anchored by Janthawisut and Kokram.
Alas Pilipinas, despite getting a spark off the bench from collegiate standouts Shaina Nitura and Amie Provido, still could not slow Thailand’s momentum as the hosts claimed the first set.
Settling into a rhythm in the second set, the Philippines even took a 17-16 lead after a Solomon cut shot and an Ajcharaporn Kongyot attack that went out.
However, Thailand’s experience soon took over. Kongyot led a red-hot 9–0 run, scoring three points herself, to give the host squad a 2–0 set lead and put them within striking distance of the win.
