Bella Belen “heartbroken” after Alas Pilipinas miss out on SEA Games podium finish

For Alas Pilipinas, a familiar storyline unfolded once again on the SEA Games stage — a gritty, hard-fought battle against Indonesia that ended just short of the breakthrough they so desperately sought.

In a bruising and emotionally charged bronze medal match at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games, the Philippines fell to Indonesia for the fourth straight time in a battle for third place, absorbing a narrow 26–28, 25–13, 28–30, 24–26 loss on Saturday at the Hua Mark Indoor Stadium in Bangkok. The defeat extended the country’s SEA Games volleyball medal drought to two decades.

University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) standout Bella Belen was visibly heartbroken after the match, admitting that missing out on a podium finish “hurts.”

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“I believe na kaya nangyari ito kasi mero dapat tayong ginawa before pa lang. Masakit talaga eh, kasi kaya talaga sana. Nakita ko na kaya ng team mag-podium ulit, pero hindi pa para sa atin,” Belen said during the post-match press conference.

“MASAKIT, KASI KAYA NAMAN SANA”

WATCH: Bella Belen turns emotional after Alas Pilipinas falls to Indonesia in the bronze medal match at the 2025 SEA Games. | via POC Media @gmanews pic.twitter.com/s7CTindWgd

— Jonathan Andal (@JonathanAndal_) December 15, 2025

Despite the setback, the 23-year-old praised her teammates for competing with pride and expressed confidence in the long-term direction of the national volleyball program, noting that growth cannot be rushed — particularly given the team’s limited preparation for the current SEA Games.

“Hindi porket natalo, ibig sabihin pangit na ‘yung program. Before, hindi naman tayo nakakadikit sa Indonesia. Ngayon natatalo na natin sila. Hindi agad-aged umaangat ang volleyball. Thailand, Japan, ilang taon silang naghirap bago nila narating kung nasaan sila ngayon,” she added.

The result sealed a familiar outcome for Alas Pilipinas: a fourth-place finish for the fifth consecutive SEA Games. Still, the loss also highlighted both the promise and the growing pains of a young Philippine squad that showed flashes of brilliance but struggled to close out pivotal moments — particularly in the razor-thin opening and third sets that could have swung the match’s trajectory.

Once again, Alas Pilipinas walked off the court with heads held high but hands empty — closer than before, yet still searching for the final pieces needed to transform valiant performances into long-awaited SEA Games redemption.

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