HIGHLIGHTS: Philippines vs Vietnam – SEA Games 2023 women’s volleyball

Reigning silver medalist Vietnam hands Philippines sweeping reality check

Reigning SEA Games women’s volleyball silver medalist Vietnam reasserted its mastery of the Philippines off a 25-20, 25-17, 25-19 sweep for its second win of the 2023 tournament.

Vietnamese sensation “T4” Tran Thih Thanh Thuy was once again on point, hammering down crosscourt kills one after another on the way to the win, while Doan Thi Xuan helped wall the Filipinas’ attacks all throughout the match.

PVL MVPs Mylene Paat and Tots Carlos led the way for the Philippines in the losing cause as it fell to a 1-1 record for the tournament, while Vietnam rose to 2-0.

SEA GAMES | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

The Philippines warms up for its litmus test against silver medalist Vietnam. | via @JRnalistic

Tune in here for live updates! #SEAGames32 #Cambodia2023 https://t.co/x2AYdm72oW pic.twitter.com/WZ1ItwYdkd
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) May 10, 2023

SEA GAMES | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Philippines' starters:

Kat Tolentino
Mylene Paat
Tots Carlos
Cherry Nunag
Jia de Guzman
Kyla Atienza#SEAGames32 #Cambodia2023
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) May 10, 2023

SEA GAMES | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Set 1: PH takes its first challenge of the tournament. Nunag insists on no net touch. Replays show net touch on T4! PH gets the point.

12-8, Philippines.#SEAGames32 #Cambodia2023
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) May 10, 2023

SEA GAMES | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

Set 1: VIE blocks Paat's backrow hit.

16-14, Philippines.#SEAGames32 #Cambodia2023
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) May 10, 2023

SEA GAMES | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

END OF SET 1: Vietnam goes on a 6-0 finishing kick sparked by four straight Philippines errors for the 25-20 opening win.#SEAGames32 #Cambodia2023
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) May 10, 2023

SEA GAMES | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

SET 2: Nunag with a booming quick!

8-6, Philippines.#SEAGames32 #Cambodia2023
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) May 10, 2023

SEA GAMES | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

SET 2: Rare errors from De Guzman at a crucial point.

17-12, Vietnam.#SEAGames32 #Cambodia2023
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) May 10, 2023

SEA GAMES | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

END OF SET 2: Vietnam takes a commanding two-set lead over the Philippines off a 25-17 pullaway.#SEAGames32 #Cambodia2023
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) May 10, 2023

SEA GAMES | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

SET 3: T4 solo block on Paat. Timeout Philippines.

8-4, Vietnam.#SEAGames32 #Cambodia2023
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) May 10, 2023

SEA GAMES | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

SET 3: Down but not out! Carlos off the block! Timeout Vietnam.

15-9, Vietnam.#SEAGames32 #Cambodia2023
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) May 10, 2023

SEA GAMES | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

SET 3: Troncoso gets on the board!

20-15, Vietnam.#SEAGames32 #Cambodia2023
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) May 10, 2023

SEA GAMES | WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

FINAL: Vietnam hands the Philippines a straight-sets reality check, 25-20, 25-17, 25-19, for its second win of the women's volleyball tournament.

Philippines falls to 1-1.#SEAGames32 #Cambodia2023
— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) May 10, 2023

Preview

The Philippine women’s volleyball team faces its first litmus test of the 2023 Southeast Asian Games in the form of perennial contender Vietnam on Wednesday, May 10, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. Game time is 6 pm (Manila time).

Coming off a brutal 25-5, 25-5, 25-5 annihilation of the host nation that only fielded homegrown neophytes, the Filipina spikers now brace for a real challenge against the reigning silver medalists, who are still captained by spiking sensation “T4” Tran Thih Thanh Thuy.

The Philippines has not beaten Vietnam in at least a decade of SEA Games competition, with the closest attempt being a five-set loss back in 2019 in Manila. This year, the podium-hungry Filipinas are once again led by the country’s best, including Premier Volleyball League (PVL) MVPs Tots Carlos, Mylene Paat, and Jema Galanza.

Team captain and Philippine flag bearer Alyssa Valdez is also in the active roster and continues to hope she gets ready to play while on the tail end of her major knee injury recovery.

Only the top two teams in the four-member Group B advance to the semifinals. Vietnam opened its campaign with its own decimation of Singapore, 25-13, 25-8, 25-7.