Eya Laure Leads Philippines Past Vietnam After Seven-Year Wait
Alas Pilipinas Women ended a seven-year drought against Vietnam with a 22-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-22 victory in Chiang Mai. Eya Laure powered the breakthrough with 22 points as the Philippines earned its first 2026 SEA V Cup victory.
Philippines Ends Seven-Year Drought Against Vietnam
The Philippines had not defeated Vietnam in senior women’s international volleyball since their meeting on October 4, 2019. That previous breakthrough came during the second ASEAN Grand Prix leg, when the Filipinas completed a convincing straight-set victory.
Tiebreaker Times reporter Jonash Dannug traced the previous Philippine victory to that 2019 ASEAN Grand Prix encounter. The national team won 25-21, 25-23, 25-21 behind a lineup featuring several established names in Philippine volleyball.
Image from: Manila Bulletin
De Guzman and Catindig Connect Two Philippine Victories
Alyssa Valdez, Ces Molina, Mylene Paat, and Majoy Baron were among the players involved during that 2019 victory. Jia de Guzman and Dawn Macandili-Catindig remained important national team pieces when the Philippines finally defeated Vietnam again.
Eya Laure Leads Balanced Philippine Offense
Laure delivered 22 points as the Philippines’ leading scorer, repeatedly providing reliable offense during important stretches against Vietnam. Alyssa Solomon added 17 points through 15 attacks and two aces, giving De Guzman another dependable attacking option.
Bella Belen contributed 16 points from 12 attacks, three blocks, and one ace during an effective all-around performance. Thea Gagate and Dell Palomata combined for another 19 points, strengthening the Philippines through their production around the net.
Alas Pilipinas Receives Production Across Rotation
Five Filipino players scored at least nine points, preventing Vietnam from concentrating its defensive coverage toward one attacking option. That distribution gave De Guzman greater freedom to involve the pins and middles throughout the four-set victory.
- Eya Laure — 22 points
- Alyssa Solomon — 17 points, 15 attacks, two aces
- Bella Belen — 16 points, 12 attacks, three blocks, one ace
- Thea Gagate — 10 points, including six blocks
- Dell Palomata — nine points, five attacks, four blocks
Philippines Recovers After Losing Opening Set
Vietnam captured the opening set, 25-22, putting the Philippines behind after its winless campaign during the tournament’s first leg. Laure, Gagate, Solomon, and Palomata helped Alas respond immediately, taking the second set through a tight 25-23 finish.
The Philippines established greater control during the third set, building an 18-8 advantage before Vietnam gradually reduced the deficit. Alas maintained enough separation to secure the frame, 25-21, moving within one set of ending its seven-year drought.
Recommended Article: Alas Women Swept by Thailand in SEA V Cup Leg 2 Clash
Third-Set Lead Shifts Pressure Toward Vietnam
Building a ten-point advantage allowed the Philippines to play from ahead while forcing Vietnam into a sustained comeback attempt. Although Vietnam reduced the margin, Alas protected enough of its advantage to complete another important set victory.
Belen and Laure Answer Fourth-Set Pressure
The Philippines held a 22-19 fourth-set advantage before Vietnam scored three consecutive points and suddenly equalized the contest. A Mars Alba service error preceded consecutive Pham Quynh Huong conversions, creating a 22-all situation late in the match.
Belen restored the Philippine advantage by attacking through Vietnam’s block before Laure converted off the hands for match point. Laure then anticipated Tran Thi Bich Thuy’s slide attack, completing the defensive play that secured the Philippines’ four-set victory.
Final Sequence Shows Philippine Composure
Vietnam’s three-point run could have changed the fourth set after eliminating the Philippines’ late three-point advantage. Instead, Belen and Laure immediately produced decisive plays on consecutive rallies before the Philippines completed the breakthrough victory.
Gagate Controls the Net With Six Blocks
Gagate delivered 10 points against Vietnam, including six blocks that strengthened the Philippines’ defense around the net throughout the match. Her blocking production helped limit attacking lanes while providing another scoring source alongside Laure, Solomon, and Belen.
The performance represented a notable improvement after Gagate recorded nine combined points across her previous four SEA V Cup matches. She surpassed that four-match scoring total against Vietnam while producing her strongest statistical performance of the tournament.
Blocking Gives Philippines Another Defensive Option
Gagate’s six blocks provided direct points while also giving Philippine defenders a stronger structure behind the front-line defense. Effective blocking can narrow attacking angles, allowing backcourt defenders to anticipate more effectively where opposing attacks may travel.
Palomata Provides Nine Points From Bench
Palomata supplied nine points after entering from the bench, giving Alas another productive middle option during the four-set victory. The veteran finished with five successful attacks and four blocks, contributing efficiently on both sides of the net.
Her production complemented Gagate’s performance and gave the Philippines 10 combined blocks from those two middle blockers against Vietnam. That presence strengthened a rotation already receiving substantial scoring contributions from Laure, Solomon, and Belen across the pins.
Middle Blockers Add Valuable Production
Gagate and Palomata combined for 19 points, including 10 blocks, during one of their strongest collective tournament performances. Their contributions prevented the Philippine offense from becoming overly dependent on its three highest-scoring outside and opposite attacking options.
De Guzman Keeps Philippine Attack Unpredictable
De Guzman’s distribution connected several productive scorers rather than repeatedly directing possessions toward one predictable attacking option against Vietnam. With five players contributing meaningful offense, Vietnam’s blockers faced difficult decisions when reading the Philippine setter’s intentions.
Committing toward the middle could create better opportunities for Philippine pin attackers, while staying wide exposed central attacking spaces. That balance became particularly useful as Gagate and Palomata established themselves as legitimate scoring threats around the net.
Setter-Hitter Balance Challenges Vietnam’s Block
De Guzman’s options expanded because Laure, Solomon, Belen, Gagate, and Palomata all produced meaningful scoring contributions during the victory. Maintaining threats across several positions made Vietnam’s blocking assignments more difficult than defending an offense centered around one scorer.
Victory Changes Philippines’ SEA V Cup Campaign
The four-set victory also gave the Philippines its first win of the 2026 SEA V Cup after a winless opening leg. Alas moved to 1-1 during the second leg, creating a positive response after beginning its Chiang Mai schedule with defeat.
Vietnam fell to 0-2 during the second leg after previously suffering another defeat against Indonesia in Thailand. The Philippines therefore entered its next assignment against Indonesia carrying its first victory of the tournament and improved second-leg form.
Indonesia Awaits After Vietnam Breakthrough
Indonesia represented the Philippines’ next opponent following a victory that changed the direction of its second-leg campaign in Chiang Mai. Alas entered that matchup with an opportunity to build upon its improved blocking, scoring distribution, and late-set execution.
Thanh Thuy Leads Vietnam Despite Defeat
Tran Thi Thanh Thuy produced 25 points for Vietnam, finishing as the highest individual scorer from either team. Pham Quynh Huong added 14 points, giving Vietnam another productive offensive option during the competitive four-set encounter.
Vietnam still received less scoring distribution than a Philippine side featuring five players with at least nine points. That contrast became important as Alas maintained attacking options across multiple positions while its middle blockers contributed meaningful scoring production.
Balanced Scoring Separates Philippine Attack
Laure led the Philippines with 22 points, but four teammates also contributed at least nine during the victory. Vietnam received major production from Thanh Thuy, while Alas generated greater scoring support throughout several areas of its rotation.
Analytical Breakdown: A Win Built Together
Ending a seven-year drought required more than strong individual performances because the Philippines executed with balance during the biggest moments. Multiple attackers stayed involved, allowing the offense to remain unpredictable throughout the four-set victory.
The fourth set revealed another encouraging sign for Alas Pilipinas as the team stayed composed after Vietnam erased a late advantage. Wins built on discipline, defensive execution, and balanced scoring often become stronger foundations for sustained success in regional competition.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Alas Pilipinas Women last beat Vietnam before 2026?
The Philippines previously defeated Vietnam on October 4, 2019, during the second leg of the ASEAN Grand Prix.
What was the Alas Pilipinas versus Vietnam final score?
Alas Pilipinas defeated Vietnam, 22-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-22, during the 2026 SEA V Cup second leg.
Who led Alas Pilipinas in scoring against Vietnam?
Eya Laure led the Philippines with 22 points while contributing important offensive and defensive plays during the fourth set.
How many points did Alyssa Solomon score against Vietnam?
Alyssa Solomon contributed 17 points through 15 successful attacks and two service aces during the Philippines’ victory.
How did Bella Belen perform against Vietnam?
Bella Belen produced 16 points from 12 attacks, three blocks, and one ace during the four-set victory.
How many blocks did Thea Gagate record?
Thea Gagate recorded six blocks and finished with 10 points during her strongest SEA V Cup performance.
Why was the victory over Vietnam significant?
The victory ended a seven-year drought against Vietnam and delivered the Philippines its first win of the 2026 SEA V Cup.
Disclaimer: Headline Image from Tiebreaker Times.
