Alas Pilipinas men’s indoor first-timer Jude Garcia attempts an attack against three Cambodian blockers in the 2026 SEA V Cup on July 15, 2026 at the Candon City Arena. Photo from SAVA
CANDON, Ilocos Sur — Alas Pilipinas Men fell short against Cambodia in five sets, 23-25, 30-28, 20-25, 25-22, 8-15, to open their 2026 SEA V Cup campaign in Pool A on Wednesday at the Candon City Arena here.
This marked the first time that Cambodia had won in the tournament.
“Sobrang nakaka-overwhelm, kasi given naman na bagong team kami na binuo dito sa SEA V Cup, pero alam naman natin na pinakita naman lahat ng bawat isa kung paano maglaro. Tapos 'yung kapit sa game na ‘to pero kinapos lang,” said Jude Garcia, who dropped 20 points to backstop national team newcomer Joshua Magalaman’s 21-piece.
The Nationals fumbled the fifth set, despite forcing a decider after a heartstopping 25-22 finish in the fourth period.
After the Cambodians rallied to a 4-0 lead in the final frame, Louie Ramirez ended that drought with a kill. Still, the fifth set was the visiting side’s to take after they raced to an 11-4 cushion, capped by an Alas net fault, pulling away from the Filipino spikers.
“Same pa rin. Stick lang kami sa game plan ni coach [Angiolino] Frigoni, kung paano 'yung gusto nya mangyari sa game. 'Yun lang, kumbaga, paghahandaan namin nang maiigi 'yung Indonesia kasi hindi basta-basta 'yung Indonesia,” Garcia said as they shift their focus to their next opponent.
The Nationals avoided a 0-2 hole after escaping the visitors in a nail-biting finish in the extended Set 2, 30-28.
They even led 24-21, but they squandered that lead to the rallying Cambodians, as the latter even reached set point at 24-25, after a Magalaman attack error.
After an attack conversion by the foreign squad, they suffered a service error that kept the Philippines in the hunt, 28-apiece.
That’s when Garcia and Lloyd Josafat seized the moment, firing an off-the-block hit and a kill block, respectively, to put Alas on the set scores at 1-1.
Alas Men had a gritty stand in the first set, before eventually falling, 23-25. After conceding a point after a Garcia service error, 20-23, Ramirez made up for it with a sharp off-the-block hit, making sure that Ybañez’ efforts on the defensive end won’t go for naught.
Josafat threw another ball after his attack sailed out, putting Cambodia on set point, 22-24, but Ramirez was there again to keep Philippines alive with a kill block, cutting the deficit to one, 23-24.
However, Cambodia found the closer, as they nailed a hit off the Filipino blockers to put his country up 1-0.
Ramirez chipped in 17 points for the hometown players, as Voeurn Veasna led the winning side with 33 big points.
The Philippines (0-1) takes on Indonesia (0-0) this Friday, while Cambodia faces the same rival first on Thursday in the tourney presented by the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC), Philippine Olympic Committee (POC), and Candon City Mayor Eric Singson.
Earlier in the day, Thailand had a strong start, beating Vietnam, 33–31, 18–25, 25–19, 25–16, to clinch the first win in Pool B.