Alas Pilipinas Men survive Vietnam in thriller to bag second straight SEA V. League bronze

Youthful Alas Pilipinas Men showed grit in the clutch to escape Vietnam, 27-25, 14-25, 22-25, 25-21, 15-12, and claim the bronze medal in the second leg of 2024 SEA V.League on Sunday in Indonesia.

The wards of Italian head coach Angiolino Frigoni have now clinched their second straight podium finish after also winding up third in the opening leg in Manila.

But the victory didn't come easily for the Filipinos, overcoming a 2-1 set deficit with youngsters Michaelo Buddin and Jade Disquitado powering their fourth set run as they took a crucial 21-17 lead.

Reigning NCAA MVP Louie Ramirez then sent them to the set point before they denied the final attack from Vietnam to force a deciding fifth set.

Alas Pilipinas found themselves deep in a 2-5 hole early in the fifth, but Buddin, Disquitado, and Ramirez fueled a furious 9-3 blitz that saw them enjoying a slim 11-8 cushion.

Another kill from the opposite side from Ramirez and an outside attack from Disquiatado carried the Philippines to the match point, 14-11, before the latter sealed the deal from the left wing.

Buddin top-scored Alas with 23 points while Ramirez and Disquiatado chipped in 19 and 17 markers apiece.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA Integrated News