By ADRIAN STEWART CO

Negrense Angel Canino delivered in clutch moments to help Alas Pilipinas women secure the bronze medal in the second leg of the 2025 SEA V.League with a 25-17, 25-17, 28-26 sweep of Indonesia in Ninh Binh, Vietnam on Sunday night, August 10.

The young spiker from the De La Salle University Lady Spikers came through when it mattered most, teaming up with Fifi Sharma for key points during the tense third set rally.

With Indonesia ahead 21-18 behind Mediol Stiovanny Yoku and Ersandrina Devega, Canino’s timely hits ignited the comeback, paving the way for Eya Laure’s back-to-back points that tied the set at 22-all.

Earlier in the second set, Canino also made her presence felt with a crucial block in the middle of a 9-2 run that broke an eight-all deadlock and gave the Philippines a commanding 17-10 advantage.

Alas Pilipinas had a scare in the opening set when Alyssa Solomon went down with a left knee injury at 17-10 while trying to dig a crosscourt hit.

The former National University Lady Bulldogs star was stretchered off, but returned to the bench in the second set, lifting her teammates’ spirits to finish the job.

The victory secured the Philippines’ fourth consecutive SEA V.League bronze medal and sixth overall since the tournament’s inception in 2019, back when it was known as the Asian Grand Prix.

Alas Pilipinas will next test their mettle against World’s No. 10 Dominican Republic in a series of tune-up matches in preparation for the 2025 Southeast Asian Games in December.

For Indonesia, the loss marked their fourth straight last-place finish in the four-team tournament./ASC, WDJ