Alas Pilipinas exploited the absence of Kazakhstan main woman Sana Anarkulova to book a ticket to the semifinals of the AVC Women’s Nations Cup.
Alas Pilipinas wanted to control their fate on the same day the country celebrates its 127th year of independence. They did just that.
The Filipinas got a measure of revenge against tormentor Kazakhstan, scoring a 25-21, 25-15, 25-19 win in the AVC Women’s Nations Cup in Vietnam on Thursday, June 12.
Alas thus climbed to the top spot of Pool B with a 4-1 tally.
Ousted by the same team in last year’s semifinals, Alas Pilipinas return to the penultimate stage at the world no. 29’s expense and will look to match or even surpass last year's podium finish.
Fierce rivals in the UAAP, Bella Belen and Angel Canino joined hands in dealing the erstwhile-unbeaten Kazakhs their first setback of the tournament.
Belen, the PVL’s 2025 top overall pick, led all scorers with 16 points including two blocks, while La Salle star Canino added 13 points.
It was the National University duo of Belen and Alyssa Solomon, though, who put the finishing touches to the win after conspiring in the final stretch of the third frame.
The Lady Bulldogs’ tandem scored six in Alas Pilipinas’ 8-2 run to finish off the Kazakhstan side missing the services of injured team captain and main scorer Sana Anarkulova.
Solomon added 14 points, including bask-to-back shots that sealed the second frame, 25-15.
Despite the loss, Central Asia’s powerhouse will still march on to the semifinals.
Without Anarkulova, Tatyana Nikitina carried the scoring cudgels for them with 12 points.
The 26-year-old Margarita Belchenka heated up early but was a non-factor in the rough stretches to end up with nine.