By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense Angel Canino shone the brightest as Alas Pilipinas secured its third consecutive bronze medal in the 2025 Southeast Asia (SEA) V.League with a dominant 25-20, 25-20, 16-25, 25-13 victory over Indonesia in Thailand on Sunday, August 3.

Bouncing back from tough losses to powerhouse squads Thailand and Vietnam, the Filipinas wrapped up the first leg of the tournament on a high note, thanks in large part to Canino’s consistent all-around performance.

After missing out on a sweep in the third set, Alas Pilipinas came out firing in the fourth, unleashing an 18-6 run to completely seize control and seal the win.

The strong finish highlighted the team’s resilience and clinched another podium finish for the Jorge Edson Souza de Brito-mentored squad.

Canino made her presence felt early in the match, helping steady the team during a shaky start.

Trailing 8-13 in the first set, the Philippines leaned on the defensive efforts of Dell Palomata, Alyssa Solomon, Fifi Sharma, and Canino, who played a pivotal role in turning the tide.

It was Canino, alongside Sharma, who spearheaded a critical 9-5 closing run to give Alas the opening frame.

With momentum on their side, Alas Pilipinas controlled the second set from the get-go and held off Indonesia for a commanding 2-0 lead.

Indonesia fought back in the third, taking advantage of eight unforced errors by the Filipinas to extend the match.

But Canino helped rally her team in the fourth, combining with her teammates on offense and defense to put the game out of reach and secure the win.

Alas Pilipinas now turns its attention to the second leg of the tournament, set for August 8 to 10 in Vietnam, as they look to finally break past the bronze and reach the gold-medal match./ASC, WDJ