Indonesia Overpowers Philippines in Four-Set Thriller at SEA V League

The Indonesian men's volleyball team delivered a commanding performance to defeat the Philippines 3-1 (25-22, 25-19, 23-25, 25-18) in a highly anticipated SEA V League clash on July 24, 2026. The match, held at the Philippine Sports Arena in Manila, saw the home side fight hard but ultimately fall short against a disciplined and powerful Indonesian squad.

Match Overview

From the opening serve, Indonesia imposed their rhythm with aggressive serving and sharp blocking. The visitors took the first two sets relatively comfortably, dictating play through their middle blockers and outside hitters. However, the Philippines refused to go quietly, rallying to take the third set behind a surge of energy from the home crowd. Indonesia quickly regrouped in the fourth set, sealing the match with a dominant 25-18 scoreline.

The victory keeps Indonesia in strong contention for the SEA V League title, while the Philippines will look to bounce back in their remaining fixtures.

Key Moments

• Set 1 – Indonesia’s early statement: A 6-0 run midway through the first set gave Indonesia a comfortable lead they never relinquished. Filipino errors at the net allowed the visitors to close out 25-22.
• Set 2 – Blocking dominance: Indonesia recorded five blocks in the second set alone, frustrating the Philippine spikers and building a 2-0 set lead.
• Set 3 – Philippine resurgence: Down 18-16, the Philippines won seven of the next nine points to take the set 25-23, sparked by two aces from libero Johnvic de Guzman and a string of kills from Bryan Bagunas.
• Set 4 – Clinical finish: Indonesia broke an early 10-10 tie with a 7-2 run, powered by opposite hitter Rivan Nurmulki, and never looked back.

Standout Performers

For Indonesia, Rivan Nurmulki was the star, finishing with 22 points (19 kills, 2 blocks, 1 ace). His versatility from the right side troubled the Philippine defense throughout. Middle blocker Hendra Kurniawan added 12 points, including 4 blocks.

On the Philippine side, Bryan Bagunas led all scorers with 24 points in a losing effort, while setter Joshua Retamar orchestrated the offense efficiently, especially during the third-set comeback. However, the home team’s reception errors (14 in total) proved costly against Indonesia’s tough serving.

Looking Ahead

The result moves Indonesia to 2-0 in the SEA V League round-robin, sharing the top spot with Thailand. The Philippines, now 1-1, will face Vietnam next, needing a win to stay in medal contention. Both teams will be back in action on July 26, with Indonesia taking on Malaysia and the Philippines meeting Vietnam.