THERE is recent history between the Philippines and defending VTV Cup champion Korabelka from Russia.
The two-time Russian Vysshaya Liga champions had UAAP champion National University, the de facto Philippine team for the competition, as their first hurdle back in the 2024 VTV Cup quarterfinals.
READ: Alas Pilipinas routs EST Cola to book VTV Cup semis seat
Korabelka finished the group stage with a perfect 3-0 record and not a single set lost in Pool B.
The Lady Bulldogs suffered a contrasting fate at 0-3 card without a single set won.
On paper, it seemed like a clear-cut mismatch.
But their actual quarterfinals duel was a different story.
The Russians started strong and won the first two sets with ease at 25-18 and 25-19.
National U got its act together in the third set and dealt Korabelka their first set loss of the tournament, 21-25, before the Russian side closed out the match in four sets at 25-22.
Alyssa Solomon topscored for the Lady Bulldogs with 20 points on 19 attacks and one block ahead of nine markers each from Bella Belen and Vange Alinsug.
Setter Lams Lamina will be the lone holdover from last year’s NU team that gave the Russians a proper challenge in the playoffs.
Russian firepower still in play
Meanwhile, nine of the 12 players from last year’s Korabelka champion team are in this year’s VTV Cup roster.
They will once again be led by reigning VTV Cup MVP Elizaveta Nesterova, who dropped 33 points on National U last year and normed 23.67 points in pool play this year.
Should Alas Pilipinas pull off a massive semifinals upset and dethrone the Russians on Saturday, it would mark the Philippines’ first-ever trip to the VTV Cup finals in the competition's 21-year history.
One of Vietnam or Chinese-Taipei awaits the nationals in either the title game or the bronze-medal match on Saturday.
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