BANGKOK — Alas Pilipinas fell short in its bid to reach the gold medal round, losing 17-25, 14-25, 17-25 to Vietnam in the semifinals of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games women’s indoor volleyball at the Indoor Stadium Huamark on Sunday, December 14.

The Filipinas fielded a full-strength lineup, including Eya Laure, who returned after missing the team’s first two games. Despite their efforts, Vietnam’s firepower proved too much, with the Filipinas unable to sustain momentum in key stretches of each set.

Alas remains in contention for a bronze medal, seeking to end a 20-year SEA Games medal drought when they face the loser of the Thailand-Indonesia semifinal on Monday at 4 p.m. Manila time.

Vietnam overwhelms Alas with mid-set runs

Alas kept pace with Vietnam early in each set, but crucial mid-set runs by the Vietnamese pulled the matches out of reach. Errors plagued the Filipinas, who committed 18 points off mistakes compared to Vietnam’s seven.

Tran Thi Thanh Thuy led Vietnam with 15 points, Vi Thi Nhu Quynh added 13, and Tran Thi Bich Thuy contributed nine to help the defending powerhouse reach its fourth consecutive final.

Alas displayed flashes of competitiveness, including Alyssa Solomon’s 10 points and Angel Canino’s 10 markers, while Laure added seven after returning from a minor abdominal strain.

Lessons and bronze medal hope

Head coach Jorge Souza De Brito emphasized that consistency remains a work in progress for the Filipinas despite the semifinal loss.

“It’s a competition, always. If they did better than us, even if we played really good, they beat us and we have to accept it and learn from this one,” De Brito said.

The team now aims to salvage pride in the bronze medal match, hoping to break a two-decade medal drought in women’s volleyball at the SEA Games, last finishing runner-up in the 1997 Jakarta edition.