Alas Pilipinas targets nothing less than a gold medal in the beach volleyball competitions of the 33rd Southeast Asian Games this December in Thailand.

“Gold is what we’re aiming for in Thailand,” the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) said during the staging of the Volleyball World Beach Pro Tour Challenge at the Nuvali Sands Court by Ayala Land in Santa Rosa on Sunday.

“We have plenty of (SEA Games) bronze and we know it is difficult, but we believe it’s possible. We’re  hoping they will be able to convert what our athletes learned here in Nuvali to a SEA Games gold medal.”

Thailand and Indonesia are the dominant force in SEA Games beach volleyball with eight gold medals each in the women and men categories, respectively.

The Philippines, on the other hand, has six bronze medals — three in each gender — since the discipline became a medal sport in 2003.

Alas Pilipinas’ beach volleyball head coach, Brazilian Joao “Kioday” Luciano Simao Barbosa, meanwhile, announced the pairs for the SEA Games in Sisi Rondina and Bernadeth Pons and Dij Rodriguez and Sunny Villapando in the women’s and James Butrago and Ran Abdilla, Ronniel Rosales and Rancel Vergara in the men’s contest.

Each country is allowed two pairs in the Thailand games which start with the opening ceremony on 9 December with beach volleyball serving from 12 to 19 December at the Huamark Sports Complex in Bangkok.

“We’re working so hard to fight for the gold. All the opponents are strong and we have a few months to prepare,” Kioday said. 

“Step by step, we’re going to reach for that gold.”