CHONBURI, Thailand – It could have been a bronze that would have shone like gold.

But instead, Alas Pilipinas is once again left to deal with another heartbreaking finish outside the podium as its medal drought in Southeast Asian Games stood after a 28-26, 13-25, 30-28, 26-24 loss to Indonesia in the semifinals at the Hua Mak Indoor Stadium in Bangkok on Monday, December 15.

The defeat prevented the Philippines from winning its first women’s volleyball medal since it won bronze at home in 2005 and extended its streak of fourth-place finishes to five editions.

Coming so close only to lose fell like a gut punch for SEA Games first-timer Bella Belen and her teammates.

“It really hurts because we could have won. I saw that the team had what it took to make it back to the podium. But it was not meant for us yet,” said a tearful Belen in Filipino.

“So I believe the team needs to work more to get to the podium.”

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It was a missed chance for the Philippines considering it had already beaten Indonesia earlier this year in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup in June and in the Southeast Asia V. League in August.

But the lack of time together may have taken its toll on Alas, with its SEA Games preparations going full swing just less than two weeks before the competition started owing to the players’ commitment to their mother clubs in the PVL.

The three extended sets that Alas lost were glaring proof.

“When you’re fighting for the country, you’re not just representing yourself but the entire Philippines. You have to play with pride and heart. I saw that the team played with heart but we simply fell short,” said Belen.

“I believe this happened because we should have done something even before this.”

As painful as the loss is, Belen keeps her faith in Alas.

“I believe we’re still on our way up. Just because we lost does not mean the program is ineffective. Before, we could barely keep up with Indonesia. Now, we’re beating them. It just happened that we lost this time,” said Belen. – Rappler.com