PHL men's volleyball team puts up gallant third-set stand, but falls to Indonesia in SEAG opener

A new-look Philippine men's volleyball team fell prey to reigning gold medalist Indonesia in an 18-25, 18-25, 23-25 sweep to kick off its 32nd SEA Games at the National Olympics Stadium in Phnom Penh, Cambodia on Wednesday.

The Filipinos are now 0-1 in Group A while the two-time defending champion Indonesia improved to 1-0.

Down two sets to none, the Philippine team put up a fight in the final set with Jay Rack De La Noche soaring from the back row to give his side an 8-7 lead. But the Indonesians answered with a quick 9-4 run to reclaim a 16-12 advantage behind Boy Arnez Arabi.

The lefty De La Noche continued to rally the Philippine team, going for a kill from the opposite side to slice their deficit to just three, 17-20, before Jau Umandal powered through to save one match point, 22-24.

But Fahri Septian Putrama put the finishing kick as the three-peat seeking Indonesians claimed the sweep victory.

The Philippines will take on host Cambodia on Thursday, May 4, at 8:30 p.m. at the same venue. The Cambodians finished third in the previous edition while the Philippines wound up fifth following a stellar silver medal finish in 2019.

The Philippines team fielded a relatively new roster as former national spikers such as Bryan Bagunas, Marck Espejo, and Joshua Retamar were not part of this year's lineup.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News