By Myris Lee
There was a time when the Philippine Women’s national volleyball team once dominated the sport in the Southeast Asian (SEA) Games. In fact, the Philippines dominated the biennial regional competition when volleyball was introduced in 1977.
The Philippine volleybelles reigned for three straight gold medal wins – 1977,1979 and 1981 – led by the best Pinay volleyball setter Vangie De Jesus.
In 1979, the Philippine volleybelles finished the country’s campaign by bagging the 3rd and the final gold medal of the country in the 10th edition of the sportsfest.
Unfortunately, in the 1983 SEA Games the team bowed to archrival Indonesia but managed to bounce back in 1985, 1987 and 1993.
But after that, Thailand never relinquished the SEA Games volleyball throne.
The drought continues for the Philippines. In the 31st Southeast Asian Games, the Filipina spikers bowed to Indonesia, 21-25, 25-22, 19-25, 21-25, in the battle for third. – bny
