Philippines and Thailand off to a winning start

Even without headline act Alyssa Valdez, the Filipina’s indoor volleyball team won their first match at the 2023 Southeast Asian Games, dominating hosts Cambodia 3-0 (25-3, 25-5, 25-5) on Tuesday (9 May).

Captain Valdez is desperate to lead her team to a first SEA Game medal in 18 years after coming in the dreaded fourth place at the past three editions.

Winning the first match is a good way to start.

On Wednesday (10 May), Philippines take on Vietnam, the second-placed finishers in the past 10 of 11 Games.

Thailand have dominated with 13-consecutive titles, and won their first match out tonight, beating Indonesia 3-0. Having come second or third in the past three Games, Indonesia will also be ones to watch.

The last team to claim the gold medal was the Philippines in 1993. Subsequent to that, the Filipinas have won two silver and three bronze medals but it’s been a while since they stepped on the podium. They’ve been going all out to change that, spending two weeks training together in Osaka, Japan under the stewardship of Brazil’s head coach Jorge Souza de Brito, a 1992 Olympic gold medallist.

So it’s a good start for the Filipinas but it’s just the beginning if they want to make it to the semi-final matches on 13 May, and the gold, silver and bronze medal matches on 14 May.

SEA Games 2023 volleyball preliminary results Tuesday 9 May

Group A

Malaysia beat Myanmar 3-0 – 25-14, 25-16, 25-13

Thailand beat Indonesia 3-0 – 25-16, 25-16, 25-16

Group B

Vietnam beat Singapore 3-0 – 25-13, 25-8, 25-7

Philippines v Cambodia 3-0 – 25-3, 25-5, 25-5