Alas belles fall short of upset vs Thailand

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas showed Southeast Asian powerhouse Thailand a fight but withered in the fifth and deciding set in a heartbreaking 25-17, 19-25, 25-15, 18-25, 15-10 loss yesterday in the women’s SEA V Cup Leg 1 in Hanoi, Vietnam.

Mars Alba came off the bench to help the Filipinas steal a couple of sets, the last in the fourth that sent the heated duel with the Thais, who fielded their young players as their stars are currently in the VNL, to the decider.

But the three-time Asian champion and 17-time SEA Games gold winner found its rhythm in time to secure that set and its second straight win that kept it atop the heap.

The Thais, the three-time titlist in this annual regional meet who trounced the Indonesians, 25-21, 32-34, 25-21, 25-19, the day before, could complete a golden sweep if they could hurdle the Vietnamese in their much-awaited duel today.

If there’s a silver lining in this defeat, it was Alba’s bright performance.