IT was deja vu in the worst way for Alas Pilipinas Women.
Indonesia again stood between the Philippines and a podium finish, dealing the Nationals another four-set defeat, 25-20, 19-25, 22-25, 16-25, at the close of Leg 1 of the 6th SEA V.Cup on Sunday in Hanoi.
The result bore a familiar sting for Alas Women, who were also booted off the podium by the Indonesians in four sets in the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games last December.
READ: Alas Women nearly stun mighty Thailand in SEA V.Cup thriller
Eight months later, Indonesia got the better of the Philippines again with another medal at stake.
The defeat capped a winless 0-3 campaign for Alas Women, leaving the Nationals dead-last in the SEA V.Cup’s four-team field after earlier losses to Southeast Asian powerhouses Vietnam and Thailand.
It also snapped the Philippines’ run of four straight bronze-medal finishes in the competition since 2024, leaving the Nationals off the SEA V.Cup podium for the first time in five legs.
Indonesia, on the other hand, secured its first podium finish in the competition since 2023.
Alas Women leaned on Niña Ytang and Dell Palomata to take the opener, with the two middles spearheading a four-block effort in a 25-20 win, the Philippines’ first and only Set 1 win of the tournament.
Indonesia answered in the second before its net defense took over in the third, using five blocks to stretch an 18-17 lead to 23-18. Ytang kept the Nationals within range with her slide attacks, but Indonesia held on, 25-22.
The Philippines stayed in pursuit in the fourth, but Indonesia built an early cushion and scored the final five points to seal the match and the bronze medal.
The winless finish came in the first tournament for a retooled Alas Women side under new head coach Taka Minowa, with the Nationals entering the SEA V.Cup after limited preparation time under their new leadership.
Still, the Philippines managed to take at least one set from each of Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia and avoided a sweep in all three matches.
Alas Women will get an immediate chance to regroup and rebound when the same four Southeast Asian sides reconvene for Leg 2 from August 7 to 9 in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
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