Bangkok, Thailand – Alas Pilipinas Women encountered a challenging start in their quest to end a 20-year medal drought at the SEA Games 2025, succumbing to a dominant Thailand squad in their opening match. The Filipinas fell in straight sets, 11-25, 17-25, 16-25, on Thursday, December 11, at the Indoor Stadium Huamark, with the home crowd adding to the pressure.
Despite flashes of brilliance from key players, Alas Pilipinas struggled to find an answer for Thailand’s well-coordinated offense and solid defense. The Thais, boasting a wealth of experience and 14 SEA Games titles, showcased their strength early, leaving the Philippines playing catch-up throughout the match.
“We knew coming in that Thailand would be a formidable opponent, especially on their home court,” said a team spokesperson. “But this is just the first step in a long tournament. We need to learn from this and quickly adjust.”
Jia De Guzman’s leadership and the offensive efforts of Angel Canino and Alyssa Solomon weren’t enough to break through Thailand’s formidable block led by Pimpichaya Kokram and Ajcharaporn Kongyot. The team aims to regroup quickly as they prepare to face Singapore on Friday, December 12. A victory against Singapore is crucial for Alas Pilipinas’ chances of advancing to the semifinals and keeping their medal hopes alive.
“We’re not discouraged,” added the spokesperson. “We know what we’re capable of, and we’re determined to bounce back and show what we can do.”
