Despite showing significant strides and flashes of brilliance, Alas Pilipinas Women fell short against powerhouse Thailand, absorbing a 25-17, 24-26, 20-25, 20-25 loss in the opening leg of the 2025 Southeast Asia V.League on Friday evening at the Ninh Binh Gymnasium.
The Filipinas opened the match with confidence and cohesion, dominating the first set and pushing the seven-time defending champions to extended points in the second. But Thailand’s veteran poise ultimately proved too much for the youthful Alas side, who now drop to 0-1 in the four-team tournament that also features hosts Vietnam and Indonesia.
Making their return to the national team lineup were Capital1's Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and La Salle's Angel Canino — key contributors in the Philippines’ silver-medal finish at the AVC Women’s Nations Cup last June. The trio had sat out the 2025 VTV Cup, where the team placed fourth.
Their comeback injected early momentum into the Philippine squad, as they raced to a 13-8 lead in the opening set. Timely hits from Fifi Sharma (Akari) and Canino, paired with miscues from the Thai side, allowed the Nationals to take the opener convincingly.
Alas Pilipinas carried that energy into the second frame, erasing a 13-17 deficit behind a crucial backrow kill from Eya Laure, a Thailand attack error, and a sharp swing by Solomon to inch ahead, 19-18. The set reached a gripping climax after Laure and Canino gave the Philippines set point, but two straight attack errors from Solomon—including one that went long in extended play—enabled Thailand to steal the second set.
The third frame saw the Nationals fall into an early 1-9 hole, but they showed resilience, clawing back to within 20-21. However, Thailand’s experienced setter Pornpun Guedpard delivered the finishing touches—blocking Vanie Gandler and scoring twice on clever 1-2 plays—to take a 2-1 lead.
Refusing to fold, the Philippines again mounted a late charge in the fourth, trimming a 16-20 gap to just 19-20. But a running attack by Thailand captain Ajcharaporn Kongyot and another Solomon error stifled the rally. Thailand sealed the match with key plays from Hattaya Bamrungsuk, Warisara Seetaloed, and a mishit from Leila Cruz.
The loss marked the Philippines' 22nd consecutive defeat to Thailand in international play, a streak dating back to 1993. A win would have been the country's first-ever against the Thais in the SEA V.League, as well as a breakthrough against a squad that has dominated the region for decades.
Still, signs of improvement were evident for the national squad, especially with the reintegration of Belen, Solomon, and Canino into the fold.
Alas Pilipinas will aim to bounce back on Saturday, August 2, when they face perennial regional rival Vietnam at 2:30 p.m. at the same venue.
Meanwhile, Thailand started its campaign for an eighth straight SEA V.League crown on a strong note, tying Vietnam at 1-0 atop the standings.
Earlier in the day, Vietnam’s Tran Thi Thanh Thuy led her side to a swift 25-11, 25-11, 25-22 sweep of Indonesia to open the tournament.
