ALAS Pilipinas opened the 2025 Southeast Asian V.League with a statement win after running through Vietnam, 25-17, 25-23, 25-19, on Wednesday in Candon City, Ilocos Sur.
National U stars Leo Ordiales and Buds Buddin delivered the one-two punch in a 7-0 run to seal their first victory in the first edition of the SEA V.League where world ranking points are in the offing.
Unlike their female counterparts, the Philippines extended its head-to-head win streak against Vietnam to three since the 2024 edition of the regional competition.
The nationals won last year’s first-leg meeting in Manila in four sets before holding fort in a five-set thriller in Leg 2 in Indonesia.
Undermanned Alas gut it out
This year, an undermanned Alas entered the SEA V.League without ailing veterans Marck Espejo (ankle), Owa Retamar (dizziness) and Bryan Bagunas (ankle).
Ace spiker Louie Ramirez, who starred in the nationals’ last two competitions, had to sit out the home tournament to attend his college graduation at Perpetual.
In their absence, Ordiales carried the scoring load for the Philippines with 20 attack points including two straight hits to close out the second set.
Alas trailed 3-7 in the early goings of Set 2 after taking the first frame with ease where it had an 8-3 start.
Two contrasting starts had the same winning outcome for Alas — one it managed to carry out despite a better showing from Vietnam.
Buddin came up clutch on defense in the third set with four blocks to cap his 16-point outing.
Another Bulldogs duo in Jade Disquitado and Peng Taguibolos backed the nationals’ scoring charge with 16 combined points.
Next up for Alas is a grudge match with Thailand on Thursday, one of the teams that dealt them defeat back in the 2025 AVC Nations Cup in June.
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