Errors doom Alas Pilipinas in SEA V-League opener against Vietnam

A heartbreaker for the Philippines as Alas Pilipinas suffered a four-set defeat to host Vietnam, 25-23, 20-25, 25-22, 25-21, in their opening match of the 2024 SEA Women’s V.League on Friday night.

Despite an impressive all-around performance, the Philippines was marred by errors, especially during crucial stretches. Alas nearly doubled the home team’s errors, 23-12, squandering their edge in attacks (58-53), blocks (14-13), and aces (7-6).

The Philippines managed to snatch the second set, showcasing their blocking and defensive prowess. Eya Laure sealed the set victory with three consecutive kill blocks, highlighting the team’s defensive strength.

Alyssa Solomon, returning to the national team, led the scoring for the Philippines with 20 points but was limited to just one point in the fourth set. Laure and middle blocker Dell Palomata were defensive stalwarts, contributing 10 blocks between them. Palomata finished with 14 points, while Laure added 13.

Vanie Gandler and Thea Gagate also had solid performances, each scoring 12 points in the hard-fought loss.

WATCH: Alas Pilipinas vs. Vietnam (August 2) Game Highlights

Despite coming close several times, Alas couldn’t close out Vietnam in the endgame. Vietnam’s Thi Bich Tuyen Nguyen proved to be a formidable opponent, delivering timely attacks to secure the victory for her squad. Tuyen finished with a game-high 27 points, including 25 attacks and two blocks. Thi Trinh Nguyen and Vi Th? Nhu Quynh added eight points each.

The Jorge De Brito-led squad was plagued by unforced errors, committing 23 compared to Vietnam’s 12, a factor that proved decisive in the tightly contested match.

The loss puts Alas Pilipinas in a tough spot as they face the formidable Thai squad in their next match on Saturday. The team will need to clean up their act and minimize errors if they hope to compete with the tournament favorites.