Alas Pilipinas still couldn’t find its breakthrough against defending champion Thailand, 25-12, 25-18, 25-10, in the first leg of the 2024 Southeast Asian (SEA) V. League on Saturday night, Aug. 3 in Vinh Phúc, Vietnam. 

The Filipinas hardly made the five-time champions sweat in their brief affair as they absorbed back-to-back losses in the pocket tournament. 

Debuting Alyssa Solomon and her National University teammate Bella Belen combined for 10 points in the dismal showing. 

Jorge de Brito’s Philippines fell short against Vietnam, 23-25, 25-20, 22-25, 21-25, in their tight opening encounter barely a day prior. 

Alas continued to benefit from the services of skipper and playmaker Jia Morado alongside Eya Laure, Sisi Rondina, Vanie Gandler, Faith Nisperos, Fifi Sharma, Thea Gagate, Julia Coronel, Jen Nierva and Dawn Macandili. 

Only Angel Canino begged off from the national team commitment to direct her focus on De La Salle, which is currently seeing action in the 39th Kadayawan Invitational Volleyball Tournament in Davao for its offseason preparations. 

Meanwhile, Creamline’s Jema Galanza and Choco Mucho’s Cherry Nunag were put on the reserve list. 

Although Alas Pilipinas has leveled up its play in international meets, it's barely been three months since the composition was put together, and a better, promising program was put in motion compared to the Thais, who have been dominating around Asia and occasionally beyond for decades. 

The Philippines will close out Leg 1 of the three-day competition against Indonesia on Sunday, Aug. 4, before a five-day rest awaits them and Leg 2 resumes from Aug. 9 to 11 in Thailand.