ALAS Pilipinas saved its best for last, beating Indonesia, 25-23, 15-25, 25-23, 25-21, to win the bronze in Leg 1 of the 2024 SEA V.League on Sunday in Vinh Phúc, Vietnam.
READ: Alas Pilipinas swept by Thailand in SEA V. League Leg 1
Alas’ first-ever in the tournament against the Indonesians was enough for the team to reach the podium for the third time in the competition’s five-year run, putting an end to an 11-game competition losing streak since 2022.
This also marks the nationals’ first SEA V.League medal finish since securing back-to-back bronzes in both legs of the inaugural four-nation meet in 2019 — the second of which held in Sta. Rosa, Laguna with skipper Jia de Guzman and Dawn Macandili-Catindig as the lone holdovers.
It was the University of Sto. Tomas connection of Eya Laure and Sisi Rondina that powered Alas’ last-gasp podium finish despite a few hiccups against three-time bronze medalist Indonesia.
Laure fired 13 points on eight attacks, four blocks and one ace as Rondina made the most of her first start in the tournament with 13 attacks.
The tournament’s reigning best opposite spiker Alyssa Solomon capped her debut Alas stint in style with a team-best 16 markers.
Down 21-23 in the first frame, Alas responded with four unanswered points to steal an early lead — but one that didn't last long as the Indonesians, through Arsela Purnama (22 points) and Megawati Pertiwi (18 points), ran past the nationals by 10 points to draw level.
From there, the La Salle connection took over and pulled out all the stops in crunch time through key contributions from ex-Taft towers Thea Gagate (10 points) and Fifi Sharma (seven points).
Focus for Alas now shifts to completing back-to-back medal hauls when SEA V.League action resumes from Aug. 9 to 11 for Leg 2 in Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand.
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