From disappointment to history: Alas Women claim breakthrough SEA V Cup silver

08-10 03:01

Fifteen days of preparation. Two countries. One historic breakthrough.

Alas Women completed a remarkable turnaround on Sunday, overcoming Indonesia in a four-set thriller, 25-13, 23-25, 25-19, 33-31, to capture the Philippines’ first-ever silver medal in the SEA V Cup at Chiang Mai Stadium in Thailand.

The achievement came after a difficult opening leg, where the Filipinas struggled to find their footing. But instead of letting that setback define them, Alas responded with resilience and delivered the biggest result in the program’s history.

The defining moment came in a fourth set that became a test of composure.

The Philippines appeared close to finishing the match, but Indonesia refused to surrender. Arsela Nuari Purnama’s attack gave the hosts a 24-22 advantage, putting the Filipinas in danger of facing another deciding set.

But Alas stayed calm.

Bella Belen answered with a timely attack. Then Fifi Sharma rose at the net to deny Ersandrina Devega, forcing the set into a dramatic deuce battle.

From there, neither team could create separation.

Indonesia repeatedly fought off match points, while the Philippines continued searching for the finishing blow. With the score tied at 31-all, Alyssa Solomon delivered a powerful cross-court hit to keep Alas alive before Sharma produced another massive block.

The final breakthrough came when Devega’s attack sailed long, sparking a historic celebration for the Philippines.

For head coach Taka Minowa, the victory was proof that the foundation of the program is beginning to take shape.

“We were just saying that nothing to expect. So I just told everybody to focus on ourselves and not focus on the opponent’s side because what we can control is only on our side. And so, they did it,” Minowa said.

The Japanese mentor, who was leading Alas in his first tournament, admitted the team is still at the beginning of its journey.

“We just trained for 15 days and came to Vietnam and Thailand [legs]. For sure, we’re just starting the program, and we have a lot of opportunities, a lot of space to improve,” he said.

Solomon led the breakthrough victory with 19 points, while Belen and Eya Laure each contributed 17 points in another impressive all-around performance.

Belen added 15 excellent digs, while Laure contributed eight excellent digs and three blocks. Palomata chipped in nine points, while Jazareno and Catindig provided stability on defense.

The Philippines set the tone early, recovering from an 11-10 deficit in the opening set with a massive 12-point surge to take control.

Indonesia answered in the second set, but Alas regained momentum in the third and carried that confidence into the unforgettable fourth-set battle.

After falling short in the opening leg, the Filipinas finished the tournament with a statement: the program is moving forward, and the region has taken notice.