Alas Pilipinas still have a narrow chance of claiming the gold medal in the SEA Men’s V.League 2025 Leg 1.
This, as the national team survived Cambodia, 25-21, 25-27, 32-30, 23-25, 15-8, on Saturday, July 12, at the Candon City Arena here.
They moved up to 2-1, mirroring the win-loss records of Thailand and Indonesia.
The Angiolino Frigoni-coached squad retained its pathway of winning the gold, but it needs several scenarios to play out in order to reach the top, including a three-set win over Indonesia if the Cambodia-Indonesia affair goes to five sets.
A loss at the hands of the Indonesians would mean virtual farewell to the gold and even the podium.
After Alas’ opening frame win, the Cambodians found the resistance, tying at 1-1 after the Nationals couldn’t capitalize on a 24-23 lead late.
Voeurn Veasna and Muorn Nimul had the attack and the kill block to help Cambodia overtake Alas and reach set point, 25-24.
Owa Retamar saved one set point after an attack, 25-all, but Nimul and Soeurn Heng delivered the kills to clinch Set 2.
Jade Disquitado, playing out of his mind in Set 3, scored eight of Alas’ last 14 points to lift the Philippines and build a 2-1 lead.
The gritty Cambodia, though, fought through, saving seven set points late in that chapter that went way beyond the limit.
But Disquitado found the attack to give the Philippines set point once more, and Retamar finally nailed the close-out shot with a kill block, 32-30.
In Set 4, the Alas men clawed their way out of a 21-18 deficit, knotting the count at 21-all after a Buds Buddin attack, but failed to find the last push, as Veasna put Cambodia on the verge of winning, 24-22.
Buddin kept the Philippines alive with his hit, 24-23, but the visiting squad was able to tie at 2-2, forcing a decider after Ratanak Phol’s set-clinching attack.
The home team thankfully had the momentum going in the final chapter, getting a 6-2 head start that dictated the tone of the rest of the match.
Wing spiker Disquitado fired a game-high 24 points on 21 attacks, two blocks and an ace, leading all scorers.
“Masaya ako sa naging performance ko. Ginawa ko lang best ko [na] manalo ‘yung team,” said Disquitado, who is embracing a “next man up” mentality as Marck Espejo recovers from an injury.
“Dahil wala si kuya Marck, mas lalo naming ginagalingan para hindi nila ma-feel na wala siya,” he added.
Leo Ordiales came up second in Alas scoring, registering 22 points, while Buddin listed 19 attack points.
Lloyd Josafat and Peng Taguibolos breached double-digits with 12 and 10 markers, respectively. (ABS-CBN News)