STRONG Group Athletics-Pilipinas dropped its opening match in the 2026 Formosa Women’s Volleyball Invitational Tournament after absorbing a 25-13, 25-20, 16-25, 25-21 defeat to Thailand’s Supreme Chonburi E.Tech on Thursday at the Xinzhuang Gymnasium at the New Taipei City, Taiwan.
After losing the opening two sets, the Philippine side bounced back by taking the third set to extend the match. Strong Group also looked poised to force a deciding fifth set after building an 8-4 lead in the fourth frame.
However, Supreme Chonburi responded with a strong rally behind the efforts of Kuttika Kaewpin, Pleumjit Thinkaow, and Kwannaphat Nualwan to erase the deficit and close out the match in four sets.
Trisha Tubu, Chinnie Arroyo, Risa Nogales, and Zam Nolasco led the charge for Strong Group Athletics, but they were unable to hold off the Thai club’s late-game surge.
With the loss, SGA-Pilipinas will look to bounce back when it faces host team Earth Power Taipei on Saturday night in its next assignment in hopes of advancing to the medal round. (Adrian Co)
