Alas Pilipinas runs out of answers as Cambodia spoils SEA V Cup redemption bid 

Alas Pilipinas’ hopes of rewriting the script against Cambodia will have to wait.

A week after pushing the Southeast Asian champions to a thrilling five-set battle in Leg 1, the Filipinos were unable to finish key stretches this time, bowing to Cambodia, 20-25, 21-25, 24-26, in their opening match of the 2026 SEA V Cup Leg 2 on Thursday at the Jakarta International Velodrome.

The defeat immediately puts the Philippines in a difficult position in Pool A, with a showdown against host Indonesia on Friday now carrying must-win implications if Alas Men hopes to keep its semifinal aspirations alive.

The latest meeting looked nothing like their marathon clash in Candon, where the Filipinos forced the eventual champions to five sets before falling, 23-25, 30-28, 20-25, 25-22, 8-15. This time, Cambodia showed why it ruled the first leg, staying composed whenever the Philippines threatened to seize momentum.

Still, Alas Pilipinas made one final push in the third set.

Behind an ace from Adrian Villados and a quick attack by Joshua Magalaman, the Filipinos built a promising 14-9 cushion and looked poised to extend the match.

But Cambodia slowly chipped away at the deficit with its disciplined defense and timely attacks, eventually drawing level at 18-all before setting up a tense finish.

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Neither side gave an inch as the teams traded points late in the set.

Cambodia’s Voeurn Veasna first broke a 22-all deadlock with a decisive attack, only for Jude Garcia to answer with an off-the-block hit to keep the Filipinos alive.

The exchange continued until the set reached 24-all, but Kuon Mom delivered another crucial attack to put Cambodia back on match point. On the ensuing rally, Garcia’s attack drifted long, allowing Cambodia to complete the straight-set victory.

The loss leaves Alas Pilipinas with little margin for error heading into its clash against Indonesia, where only a victory will keep its campaign alive in Jakarta.

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