Alas Pilipinas Women at the 2026 SEA V Cup Leg 1. SAVA
POLOMOLOK, South Cotabato — Alas Pilipinas Women absorbed a tough 27-29, 17-25, 25-20, 19-25 loss at the hands of Vietnam to start their 2026 SEA V Cup Leg 1 journey on Friday at the Dong Anh Gymnasium in Hanoi.
Despite claiming Set 3, 25-20, the Filipina spikers could not ride the momentum in the last frame as the Vietnamese pulled away midway, installing a huge 19-11 lead midway en route the four-set win.
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Tran Thi Bich Thuy eventually put the home squad on match point, 24-17, but Thea Gagate was there with a long spike to save one match point, and the Vietnamese middle blocker suffered an attack error to keep Philippines alive at 24-19.
However, she made up for it, dealing the game-clinching attack, catching the hole in the Alas defense for a 1-0 record in the four-nation tournament.
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Before that, Alas Women fell short in the tightly fought opening frame, squandering two set point advantages at 24-23 and 25-24. Likewise, Vietnam needed three set points to close that one out, as Alyssa Solomon was blocked in the last point, conceding the set, 27-29.
The 11 errors of Alas in that set proved costly, despite clinching 18 attacks; Vietnam, converting 14 spikes.
The national team will now face Thailand tomorrow, August 1, aiming to bounce back and enter the win column.