By ADRIAN STEWART CO

The Alas Pilipinas national men’s volleyball team fell short against Indonesia, 25-19, 19-25, 21-25, 25-22, 15-9, in the second leg of the SEA V.League at the Jakarta International Velodrome in Indonesia on Wednesday night, July 16.

Negrense Leo Ordiales finished with 16 points, coming from 13 attacks, two service aces and a block, for Alas Pilipinas men, who finished in fourth place in the first leg last week in Ilocos Sur.

With three days removed from a loss to the same team, Alas Pilipinas’ bid for revenge slipped away after a costly 0-5 start in the decisive fifth set, dashing their hopes of opening the second leg on a high note.

Consecutive attacks from Fahri Putratama and Tedy Syahputra highlighted the run that gave the hosts a commanding 9-3 cushion before they sealed the win with a block by Hendra Kurniawan on Buds Buddin and two straight points by Putratama.

The loss marked the sixth straight defeat of the Philippines to Indonesia since the introduction of the men’s division in the SEA V.League in 2023.

Alas Pilipinas men will look to snap their losing skid and revive their second-leg campaign when they take on Cambodia on Friday afternoon, July 18./ASC, WDJ