Peter Jandrei Melan

Alas Pilipinas Men stumbled in their SEA V.League Leg 2 opener, falling to host nation Indonesia in a gripping five-set battle, 25–19, 19–25, 21–25, 25–22, 15–8, at the Gelora Bung Karno Sports Complex in Jakarta, July 16.

Photo Courtesy of Facebook/SAVA.

The loss marked the second consecutive defeat for the squad against the reigning Southeast Asian powerhouse, who had previously dealt them a straight-sets loss (25–19, 25–17, 25–17) just days earlier in Candon, Ilocos Sur, to deny the Philippines a silver-medal finish in the first leg of the tournament.

Despite conceding the opening frame, Alas Pilipinas regrouped and claimed the second and third sets behind the stellar showing of National University standouts Jade Disquitado and Leo Ordiales, the latter having been named Best Opposite Hitter of Leg 1. 

Disquitado finished with a team-high 20 points, while Ordiales contributed 16 markers. Louie Ramirez added 12 in his return to the rotation.

However, the home team fed off the energy of the Jakarta crowd to wrest momentum in the fourth set and force a deciding frame.

Indonesia raced to a blistering 5-0 start in the fifth set, capitalizing on Philippine miscues to build a lead that Alas never recovered from. 

Most of the Filipinos’ points in the final set came from Indonesia’s unforced errors rather than offensive conversions.

With this loss, the Philippines continues to search for consistency in tight end-game situations—an area that has plagued the squad since the start of the SEA V.League. 

The setback also highlights their struggle to close out matches despite gaining early control.

Alas Pilipinas aims to bounce back in their next assignment against Cambodia, a team they narrowly edged in a five-set thriller during Leg 1 in Candon on July 18.