Alas Pilipinas Men staged a rousing reverse sweep against Vietnam to clinch the SEA Games bronze medal, ending a six-year podium drought.
Alas Pilipinas Men saved their best performance for last, completing a thrilling reverse sweep against Vietnam, 23-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-22, 16-14, to secure the bronze medal in the 33rd Southeast Asian Games on Friday, December 19, at the Indoor Stadium Huamark in Bangkok.
After dropping the first two sets, Alas Men showed renewed composure and grit to claw their way back, taking the next three frames and a decisive fifth set to clinch the podium finish.
The bronze-medal victory capped what was arguably Alas Men’s most complete outing of the tournament.
Veteran hitters Marck Espejo and Bryan Bagunas anchored the offense, while Leo Ordiales and Lloyd Josafat provided crucial support on both ends as the Philippines slowly wrestled momentum away from a resilient Vietnamese side.
The win carried added significance for the program, marking the Philippines’ first SEA Games podium finish since 2019, when the national team captured a historic silver medal.
While the gold medal remained elusive this time around, Alas’ bronze provided a strong closer to a challenging campaign that followed a breakthrough year on the international stage.
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Kiko Demigillo’s journey in sports storytelling began with a deep passion for games and athletes, which eventually grew into a full-fledged career.
Now a dedicated sportswriter, Kiko covers a wide range of beats for One Sports, including the PVL, UAAP, PBA, and various international tournaments.