Laure, Solomon cap historic SEA V Cup run with Dream Team honors

08-10 03:06

Alas Pilipinas’ historic silver-medal campaign came with individual recognition for two of its biggest stars.

Eya Laure and Alyssa Solomon were named to the 2026 SEA V Cup Dream Team after helping the Philippines secure its best finish in the tournament’s second leg on Sunday at Chiang Mai Stadium in Thailand.

Laure collected her first individual SEA V Cup award after being named Best Outside Hitter, while Solomon once again claimed Best Opposite Spiker — an honor she has now won four times overall and in consecutive legs.

For Laure, the recognition capped a strong turnaround after a quiet start to the tournament.

She scored only five points in the Philippines’ opening loss to Thailand but quickly found her rhythm, exploding for 22 points in the breakthrough victory over Vietnam.

The Choco Mucho star then delivered 17 more points against Indonesia in the medal-clinching match, finishing the second leg with 44 points — third-best in the tournament.

Only Vietnam’s Tran Thi Thanh Thuy and Pham Quynh Huong, who each scored 45 points, finished ahead of her.

Solomon also saved some of her best volleyball for the most important matches.

After being held to just six points against eventual champion Thailand, the former National University standout responded with 17 points against Vietnam and a tournament-best 19 in the Philippines’ four-set victory over Indonesia.

Her 42 points placed her fourth among the tournament’s top scorers.

The individual awards also highlighted Thailand’s dominance, with Sasipapron Janthawisut repeating as both Most Valuable Player and Best Outside Hitter.

Thai teammates Pornpun Guedpard and Thatdao Nuekjang joined her in the Dream Team, with Guedpard earning Best Setter honors and Nuekjang claiming one of the Best Middle Blocker awards.

Vietnam’s Tran Thi Bich Thuy took the other middle blocker spot, while Indonesia’s Indah Guretno was recognized as Best Libero.

For Laure and Solomon, however, the awards were the finishing touches to a much bigger achievement: helping Alas Pilipinas turn around its fortunes and come away from Thailand with a historic silver medal.