Alas Pilipinas Men concluded the first leg of the 2025 Southeast Asia (SEA) V.League with a fourth-place finish after absorbing a tough straight-sets defeat at the hands of Indonesia, 19-25, 17-25, 17-25, on Sunday evening.
Hoping to improve on their back-to-back bronze medal finishes from 2024, the Filipino squad entered the tournament with renewed confidence despite a recent 10th-place result in the AVC Nations Cup just 26 days prior. A podium finish—especially a silver—would have marked a historic feat for the program, being the country’s first in the SEA V.League and only its third second-place finish since 1961.
Instead, the Nationals closed out the tournament with a 2-2 win-loss slate—marking their lowest finish in the competition since the men’s division was introduced in 2023.
The turning point came in the third set with both squads tied at 7-all. But Indonesia pulled away with an 8-1 run, establishing a commanding 15-8 cushion. The momentum shifted entirely to the opposing side, capped by key plays from Jasen Kilanta’s quick attack, a sharp down-the-line kill by Rama Fauzan, and a final swing from Boy Arabi to put the match away for good.
Earlier, the Filipinos tried to keep it close in the second set, trailing just 14-18, but Indonesia strung together a decisive 7-3 closing run that widened the gap and left the Nationals scrambling.
The opening frame also set the tone for the match, as Alas Pilipinas found themselves in an early hole. Indonesia turned a slim 8-6 lead into a 15-10 advantage thanks to a 7-2 rally that they never relinquished, allowing them to control the set and eventually, the momentum for the remainder of the contest.
The loss also confirmed that the Philippines would miss out on a shot at the championship, as powerhouse Thailand secured its third consecutive SEA V.League crown earlier in the day with a clinical sweep of Cambodia.
Thailand leaned on the firepower of captain Amornthep Khonhan and Chaiwat Thungkham, who tallied 15 points apiece. Veterans Anurak Phanram and Kissada Nilsawai backed them up with 13 and 10 points, respectively, as the team wrapped up another dominant run.
Cambodia, meanwhile, went winless in the leg, with Veasna Voeurn leading the charge in a losing effort with 11 points built on nine attacks.
With the first leg behind them, Alas Pilipinas now turns their attention to the second leg of the SEA V.League, scheduled from July 16 to 20 in Jakarta, Indonesia. That leg will serve as another crucial part of their preparations for the 2025 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championship, which kicks off on September 12.
