Alas Pilipinas takes the bronze in the men's indoor volleyball competition of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand. POC Media
(UPDATED) Alas Pilipinas has returned to the podium of men's indoor volleyball competition at the Southeast Asian Games.
This, as Alas Men pulled off a stunning reverse sweep against Vietnam, 23-25, 23-25, 25-18, 25-22, 16-14, in the bronze medal match, securing a third-place result in this year's iteration of the biennial sporting meet on Friday in Thailand.
This marked the national team's first podium finish after six years, or since the national team won the silver on home soil during the 2019 Games.
Embracing a down-but-not-out mentality, forged by the closely fought set losses in the first two frames and past unfortunate defeats, the Angiolino Frigoni-coached squad regained its ways, keeping its determination to force a deciding Set 5.
READ: After historic FIVB stint, 'overpressure' weighed on Alas Men in SEA Games
"Actually, kaming lahat sinabi namin sa isa't isa na ilaban namin. Mahaba pa 'yung laban [at] hindi naman natatapos 'yung laro sa two sets lang," captain Bryan Bagunas noted.
A Lloyd Josafat service ace got the job done in the extended deciding frame—which was the bronze-medal clinching point—but before that, the Vietnamese also showed grit, threatening the Philippines which reached match point as early as 14-11.
READ: SEAG: Alas Men succumb to Thailand, drop to bronze medal match
The Vietnamese saved three match points, but Alas Men remained composed, as Bagunas propelled the Nationals to 15-14 with a checkball hit—and the rest is history.
Marck Espejo took much of the scoring load, firing a game-high 30 points anchored on 25 attacks, three blocks, and two aces, Leo Ordiales had 20 points on 17 attacks, two blocks, and one ace, while Bagunas displayed his blocking skills with five rejections to go with 14 spikes, totaling 19 markers.
Josafat had 11 points, while Peng Taguibolos had seven markers.