Another SEA Games, another heartbreak as SIBOL MLBB Women were denied a golden ending, with Malaysia completing a gutsy comeback in a thrilling seven-game finals series
Another SEA Games, another gut-wrenching finish for SIBOL MLBB Women.
After holding a 3-2 lead in a best-of-seven finals series, the SIBOL Women fell to Malaysia to settle for silver on Wednesday, December 17, at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand.
It was déjà vu for the Philippines, echoing the 2023 heartbreak in Cambodia when the team lost to Indonesia in the gold medal round.
The series was a tense back-and-forth as both nations split the first four games, and a grueling 23-minute Game 5 swung in the Philippines’ favor, giving them a critical 3-2 edge.
But Malaysia fought back, seizing Game 6 and forcing a winner-take-all showdown.
With momentum on their side, the Malaysians denied SIBOL Women the gold they had chased so fiercely, preventing a double sweep in the MLBB event after the men’s team had earlier claimed top honors.
The team — NaVi PH’s Kaye Maerylle “Keishi” Alpuerto, Rica Fatima “Amoree” Amores, Gwyneth “Ayanami” Diagon, Sheen “Shinoa” Perez, Mery Christine “Meraaay” Vivero, and Clarisse “CLA” Cordova of Team Liquid PH — also absorbed their first and only loss of the tournament, a bitter reminder of how fleeting victory can be in high-stakes esports.
(With reports from Doreen Suaybaguio/Cignal)
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Pao Ambat earned his journalism degree from Cavite State University in 2022.
Passionate about sports from a young age, he primarily covers the NBA for One Sports, while also assisting in reporting on the PVL, PBA, UAAP, and other leagues.