By ADRIAN STEWART CO
The Alas Pilipinas women ended Thailand’s decades-long dominance in women’s beach volleyball after sweeping the hosts to claim their maiden gold medal at the 33rd Southeast Asian (SEA) Games at Jomtien Beach in Chonburi, Thailand.
The Philippines defeated Thailand, 2-0, in the finals, snapping a 22-year reign that saw the Thais win all eight previous editions since the sport was introduced as a medal event in 2003.
Negrense Bernadeth Pons and Cherry Rondina gave Alas Pilipinas a strong opening as they dominated Thailand’s Worapeerachayakorn Kongphopsarutawadee and Taravadee Naraphornrapat, winning 21-17, 21-15.
Sunny Villapando and Dij Rodriguez then sealed the championship with a 21-13, 17-21, 15-6 victory over Thailand’s Tanarattha Udomchavee and Rumpaipruet Numwong.
The gold medal also served as redemption for Alas Pilipinas, which suffered a heavy loss to Thailand in their final elimination match earlier in the tournament.
The breakthrough capped years of steady progress for Philippine women’s beach volleyball.
The country first reached the podium in 2005 with a bronze medal, followed by back-to-back bronze finishes in 2019 and 2021.
After missing the podium in 2023, Alas Pilipinas rebounded in this edition to finally claim the long-awaited gold./ASC, WDJ