Courtesy: pvl.ph
IN a thrilling conclusion to the opening leg of the 2024 Southeast Asian V-League, Alas Pilipinas secured a bronze medal after defeating Indonesia in four sets, 25-23, 15-25, 25-23, 25-21 on Sunday in Vinh Phúc, Vietnam.
Following back-to-back defeats to host Vietnam and Thailand, the Filipinas rallied to clinch their first medal in the tournament since their consecutive bronze finishes in 2019.
Alas Pilipinas had endured winless campaigns in the 2022 and 2023 editions of the V.League, making this victory a significant achievement.
Despite a rough second set, where they struggled to find their rhythm, the Filipinas rebounded strongly in the closely contested third set to gain a 2-1 lead. They maintained their momentum in the fourth set, overcoming a few setbacks to seal the win.
National University’s Alyssa Solomon led the charge with an impressive 16 points, including 14 attacks, one block, and one ace.
Her performance was pivotal in ending the team’s 11-game losing streak in the SEA V.League.
Sisi Rondina of Choco Mucho and Eya Laure of Chery Tiggo each added 13 points to the tally.
The middle blocker duo of Thea Gagate from ZUS Coffee and Fifi Sharma of Akari contributed 10 and seven points, respectively, in the crucial win.
Indonesia’s Arsela Nuari Purnama was the standout performer for her team with 22 points, while Megawati Hangestri Pertiwi added 18 markers.
Alas Pilipinas will aim to build on this success and improve their standing in the second leg of the tournament, which will be held from August 9 to 11 in Thailand. pvl.ph
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