Eya Laure and Alas Pilipinas in the SEA V.League leg 1 match against Thailand. –SAVA PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas couldn’t sustain its strong first set win and fell to defending champion Thailand, 25-17, 24-26, 20-25, 20-25, in the 5th SEA V-League 1st Leg opener on Friday in Nakhon Ratchasima.

The Nationals unleashed a strong first set, leading as much as 18-11 with Eya Laure, Dell Palomata, and Fifi Sharma leading the charge before Angel Canino put on the finishing touches to draw the first blood.

SCHEDULE: Alas Pilipinas Women at SEA V.League – Leg 1

But Alas Pilipinas lost steam as the Thais, who missed the services of Chatchu-on Moksri, caught fire and remained unbeaten in 22 games in the V-League.

Alas Pilipinas’ Angel Canino in the SEA V.League leg 1 match against Thailand. –SAVA PHOTO

The Filipinos, though, didn’t go down without a fight as Alas recovered from a 13-17 deficit in the second and even led 22-20 after Laure’s block and Mars Alba’s ace.

Laure and Canino put the Filipino Spikers at set point, 24-23, before Thais scored three straight points off Alas’ two crucial attack errors.

Thailand showed the heart of a champion in the clutch moments of the last two sets.

The Philippines seeks to bounce back against Vietnam on Saturday at 2:30 p.m.

Earlier, Vietnam dominated Indonesia, 25-11, 25-11, 25-22.