Alas women yield to Vietnam, eye SEA Games bronze

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas will not be snapping out of a 32-year Southeast Asian Games women’s volleyball gold medal drought after absorbing a stinging 25-17, 25-14, 25-17 mauling at the hands of Vietnam in their semifinal duel Sunday at Indoor Stadium Huamark in Bangkok, Thailand.

But the Filipinas though will have a chance to end another dry spell as they shoot for their first podium finish since copping a bronze two decades ago back home versus the loser of the Thailand-Indonesia duel.

There were notions before the confrontation that the Nationals could put up a fight since the Vietnamese were without of their top players in Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen, who withdrew months before the games due to personal and family reason and allegedly over new FIVB player eligibility rules regarding gender testing.

It didn’t happen as Vietnam was in total control from start to finish after riding on the back of its longtime captain Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, who presided over the carnage with 15 points.

At the very least, Alas, whose last gold came in 1993 in Singapore, could console itself with a shot at a bronze Monday.

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