Alas Pilipinas Ends Thailand’s Reign, Wins Historic SEA Games Beach Volleyball Gold

Alas Pilipinas made history on Friday, December 19, after capturing the Philippines’ first-ever women’s beach volleyball gold medal at the Southeast Asian Games, stunning eight-time defending champion Thailand at Jomtien Beach in Chonburi.

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Alas Pilipinas vs Thailand

The Filipinas clinched the championship through a dominant showing in the best-of-three final. Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons set the tone with a straight-sets victory over Taravadee Naraphornrapat and Worapeerachayakorn Kongphopsarutawadee, 21-17, 21-15. Dij Rodriguez and Sunnie Villapando then sealed the gold with a gritty 21-13, 17-21, 15-6 win against Tanarattha Udomchavee and Rumpaipruet Numwong.

Thailand had ruled the women’s beach volleyball event since its introduction to the SEA Games in 2003, winning all eight previous editions. The Philippines’ breakthrough came despite an earlier round-robin loss to the Thais, making the gold medal triumph even more remarkable.

“As long as we stay consistent, a podium finish will come,” said Rondina. “We showed that consistency today, and that’s why we won the gold.”

Rodriguez described the victory as the fulfillment of a long-held dream, while Villapando credited the team’s resilience through years of setbacks and near-misses. “All the pain and heartbreak prepared us for this moment,” Villapando said.

The quartet had previously settled for bronze medals in the 2019 and 2021 SEA Games, while missing the podium in 2023. Their persistence finally paid off, delivering the Philippines its first SEA Games volleyball gold since the women’s indoor team triumphed in 1993.

With Thailand hosting the next SEA Games, the defending champions are expected to regroup- but the Philippines has firmly announced itself as a new force in Southeast Asian women’s beach volleyball.

Also Read: SEA Games 2025 Thailand: List Of Sports, Nations

Where to watch SEA Games 2025 Live?

The SEA Games will be broadcast across Southeast Asia by regional broadcasters, with 31 live sports to be telecast across seven of the participating nations.

Fans in Thailand can tune in via NBT with T-Sports 7, while Cignal TV will show the action in the Philippines. Vietnam’s coverage is being shared by VTV, FPT Play, VTC, HTV and Vinh Long TV.

In Indonesia, actions of the SEA Games 2025 will be available on MNC Media, with coverage on RTM and Sarawak Media Group in Malaysia.

Mediacorp are showing the competition in Singapore, and all the action will be broadcasted in Vietnam by Forever Group and HEY Play.

Thailand: NBT and T-Sports 7

Philippines: Cignal TV