Once again, Alas Pilipinas Women showed tremendous heart and superb talent at the continuation of the 2025 SEA V.League. But once more, the nationals just couldn’t get it done, losing to Vietnam, 25-13, 25-21, 23-25, 25-9, on Saturday afternoon at Terminal 21 Hall in Vietnam.
One day after taking the fight to Thailand, Alas Pilipinas looked all out of sorts in the opening frame against Vietnam, gettinge eviscerated 25-13 by the Vietnamese, who denied the Philippines a golden finish in the 2025 AVC Women’s Nations Cup back in June via a sweep.
Vietnam appeared poised for another sweep, which would’ve been its third straight three-setter versus Alas, which it also beat in three sets in the 2025 VTV Women’s International Cup in late June. Another sweep seemed inevitable at the conclusion of the second frame, which the Vietnamese won as well, 25-21.
Alas Pilipinas Fights Back, Falls Short Again
With their backs against the wall, the nationals went all-out in the third frame, charging back from a 5-10 deficit with a Vanie Gandler-led run. Then, with the set tied at 21, Eya Laure again came up clutch, firing two huge attacks before Dell Palomata scored her own kill to stake Alas to set point, 24-23. A service error by Vietnam clinched the set for the Philippines to avoid another sweep from the Vietnamese.
Vietnam, however, quickly snuffed out any hopes of an upset as it regrouped in the fourth set to win it decisively, 25-9. The Vietnamese were all business to start the fourth frame, racing out to an 11-3 lead and finishing with a 14-6 run to close the show and win their second straight match in the 2025 SEA V.League.
Another Bronze in the 2025 SEA V.League?
With an 0-2 record, Alas Pilipinas is out of the running for either a gold or silver medal finish, which would have been the country’s best in this tournament. Instead, the national team will be gunning for a fifth bronze in the competition when they take on Indonesia, which is also winless after succumbing to Thailand later on Saturday.
The Philippines will take on Indonesia for the bronze medal at 6:30 p.m. on Sunday in the final day of the 2025 SEA V.League.
