Alas Pilipinas will head to the 2025 AVC Women's Nations Cup Finals for the first time ever after escaping Chinese Taipei in a five-set thriller.
Alas Pilipinas will march on to their first-ever AVC Women’s Nations Cup Finals after escaping Chinese Taipei in five sets, 25-17, 25-21, 18-25, 15-25, 15-12, on Friday at the Dong Anh Gymnasium in Hanoi, Vietnam.
Despite squandering a two-set lead, the Philippines showed great heart and composure to overcome a gritty Chinese Taipei squad.
The winner-take-all fifth set saw a neck-and-neck battle between both squads, with Alas Pilipinas taking a crucial 9-6 lead behind Eya Laure and Fifi Sharma.
Chinese Taipei would not go away that easily though, cutting the deficit to a single point a 10-9. But a 4-2 blast powered by Laure alone put Alas Women at match point.
But just as Chinese Taipei looked to threaten once more, a crucial challenge by coach Jorge de Brito on Bella Belen’s cut shot to seal the victory proved to be successful.
Belen led Alas Women with 15 points and 16 excellent digs, backed by Alyssa Solomon and Fifi Sharma with 12 and 10 markers, respectively. Laure added nine crucial points, most of which came in the final frame.
Alas Women will now gear up to face regional rival Vietnam in the Finals set for Saturday.