HANOI—The Philippines shut out host Vietnam, 2-0, to stay in gold medal contention in the 31st Southeast Asian Games women’s beach volleyball tournament on Wednesday at the Tuan Chau Beach in Quang Ninh.
The Filipinas improved to 3-1 won-lost unlike in their 2019 showdown where the Vietnamese forced a golden match. Jovelyn Gonzaga and Dij Rodriguez remained undefeated in four matches as the first-time partners topped Truong Duong My Huyen and Nguyen Thi Thanh Tram, 21-13, 22-20.
Rebounding from the two defeats in the Philippines’ 1-2 setback to Indonesia Tuesday, Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons made quick work of Vu Ngoc Lan Nguyen and Nguyen Le Thi Tuong Vy, 21-16, 21-12.
The Indonesians, also sporting a 3-1 record, hold the tiebreaker against the Filipinas in case both teams end up locked in second place. Indonesia, the 2019 silver medalist, bested Malaysia, 2-0.
The Philippines will wrap up its round robin assignments against 2019 gold medalists Thailand at 3:45 p.m. (Manila time) on Thursday. The Filipinas can advance to the gold medal match if they beat the Thais coupled by a loss by the Indonesians to the Vietnamese.