Alas Pilipinas made history at the 33rd Southeast Asian Games in Thailand, as the Philippine women’s beach volleyball team captured the nation’s first-ever gold medal in the sport, defeating the long reign of 8-time champions from Thailand.

The team—composed of Bernadeth Pons, Cherry Ann Rondina, Floremel Rodriguez, and Sunnie Villapando—delivered stellar performances in front of a passionate home crowd, toppling host Thailand in both matches of the gold medal round.

In the first matchup, Rondina and Pons dominated Worapeerachayakorn and Naphornrapat in straight sets, 21–17, 21–15, securing a decisive victory.

Meanwhile, Rodriguez and Villapando showcased resilience and composure in a thrilling three-set encounter, defeating Udomchavee and Numwong 21–13, 17–21, 15–6.

The twin wins highlighted the Philippines’ emergence as a rising power in Southeast Asian women’s beach volleyball, marking a historic moment for the sport and adding a golden chapter to the country’s SEA Games legacy.