After a spirited stand against Thailand, Alas Pilipinas hope to duplicate that performance and do more against Vietnam in Leg 1 of the 2025 SEA V.League.
After showing flashes of brilliance in their SEA V.League opener, Alas Pilipinas are eyeing a bounce-back win when they face Vietnam on Saturday, August 2, at 2:30 p.m. (PH time).
Alas came out swinging in its opening match against the host team, stunning Thailand with a dominant first-set win, 25-17. But the momentum slowly shifted away from the Philippines, which dropped the next three sets—24-26, 20-25, 20-25—despite a gutsy effort on both ends.
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Still, Alas Pilipinas turned heads with their performance, even earning praise from longtime Thailand head coach Kiattipong Radchatagriengkai, according to head coach Jorge de Brito.
“He told us how good it is to have good opponents in SEA. He also said that we improved a lot, and even without playing in VNL, we reached this level so far—floor defense and all the other skills. He was shocked after the first set and our comeback in the second and third,” shared de Brito.
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Now, Alas hopes to build on that gritty display as it takes on Vietnam, another regional rival that has consistently challenged the Philippines in recent years.
This match offers a key test for a reloaded Alas squad bannered by young stars Angel Canino, Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and Shainah Nitura—players who are gradually embracing larger roles on the international stage.
The team’s veteran core, led by captain Jia de Guzman, along with Eya Laure, Vanie Gandler, and middle blocker Dell Palomata, will once again be counted on to steady the ship.
The opening leg of the SEA V.League is a crucial tune-up for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games, also to be held in Thailand. And for Alas, a strong finish could further solidify the strides the team has made as one of the region’s emerging contenders.
(With reports from Jan Ballesteros)
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[Editor's note: This article was written by a member of the One Sports Digital with the help of AI, and then checked by the staff to ensure accuracy.]