Alas Pilipinas Tops Indonesia Again to Secure SEA V.League Leg 2 Bronze

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by Misha Cruz

Alas Pilipinas women during their Leg 2 match against Indonesia.
Alas Pilipinas women during their Leg 2 match against Indonesia. Photo: SAVA.

Alas Pilipinas capped its SEA V.League 2025 Leg 2 campaign the same way it did in the first leg—by outlasting Indonesia for the bronze medal.

The national women’s squad turned in a strong finish on Sunday, sweeping their rivals 25-17, 25-17, 28-26 to secure third place once more.

After back-to-back defeats to powerhouse squads Thailand and Vietnam, the Filipinas once again found Indonesia to be their ticket to the podium. But unlike their earlier set wins, the final frame proved to be a nail-biter.

Indonesia surged late in the third set, taking a 21-18 advantage and threatening to extend the match. That’s when Eya Laure and Bella Belen took charge, combining for clutch hits that erased the deficit. Laure strung together consecutive attacks to level the score at 22, but a brief lapse handed set point to Indonesia at 24-23.

Belen answered with a quick kill to swing momentum back to the Philippines, then traded points with the opposition as the set reached a tense 26-all. From there, Angel Canino delivered a momentum-shifting block to bring up match point, and an Indonesian miscue sealed the victory at 28-26.

While the win was cause for celebration, the match wasn’t without concern. Opposite hitter Alyssa Solomon suffered an apparent knee injury midway through the first set while chasing down a ball near the sideline. The former National University standout was stretchered off but later returned to the bench, though she did not re-enter the game.

Alas Pilipinas' Alyssa Solomon (14) suffered a knee injury in the first set.
Alas Pilipinas' Alyssa Solomon (14) suffered a knee injury in the first set. Photo: SAVA.

Despite the setback, Alas Pilipinas displayed resilience and composure in closing out the match. Their defense held firm in the opening two sets, limiting Indonesia’s scoring runs and controlling the tempo.

The bronze marks a repeat of the team’s Leg 1 result, where they also fell short against Thailand and Vietnam but swept Indonesia to finish third. Although the gold medal remained out of reach, the consistent podium finishes show the squad’s steady presence in the regional volleyball scene.

For head coach Jorge De Brito’s side, the tournament was both a test and a reminder—while they remain a step behind Asia’s elite teams, their grit and chemistry give them a fighting chance every time they step on the court.