ALAS Pilipinas cruised past Thailand’s Est Cola, 25-17, 25-21, 25-21, to advance to the 2025 VTV Cup semifinals on Thursday in Vinh Phuc, Vietnam.
This becomes the second semis appearance for a Philippine team in the invitational tournament since Choco Mucho won bronze in 2023.
Now on a three-game win streak, next for the nationals in the final four is defending VTV Cup champion Korabelka on Friday.
The two-time Russian Vysshaya Liga winners also pulled off a quarterfinals sweep over the Australian national team, 25-16, 25-16, 25-12, to extend its title defense.
Alas began to pull away in the first set by turning a 12-13 deficit into a nine-point lead at 24-16.
Alas' Guardian Angels
As it has been throughout pool play, it was still Petro Gazz aces Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips who were at the forefront of the nationals’ strong quarterfinals start to the quarterfinals.
Even as the young Thais kept it close in the succeeding sets, Alas’ mainstay spiker trio in Vanie Gandler, Eya Laure and Leila Cruz paved the way for the Philippines to put the former PVL guest team away in straight sets.
Laure’s clutch hit and service ace in Set 2 capped a 4-0 Alas run from 21-all, also highlighted by Fil-American setter Tia Andaya’s block and a late Est Cola attack error.
Come the third set, the Philippines fielded most of its second unit led by UAAP standouts Lams Lamina and Alleiah Malaluan to deal the knockout punch to the Thais.
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