IT wasn’t pretty for Alas Pilipinas Women the last time they took on Vietnam nearly a year ago in Manila.
Fresh off a historic AVC Challenge Cup bronze, the Philippines had little time to prepare for another regional tilt it was set to host.
READ: Alas outlasts Chinese-Taipei, reaches first AVC final in 64 years
The last edition of the FIVB Challenger Cup for Women took place at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in July last year.
At stake in that eight-team tournament was a wildcard spot in the Volleyball Nations League (VNL).
By virtue of being hosts, Alas qualified for the competition which began straight away with the knockout quarterfinals against the tournament’s top-ranked team in Vietnam.
It would turn out to be a one-sided affair between the Challenge Cup’s gold and bronze medalists as Vietnam swept the Philippines with ease, 25-14, 25-22, 25-21.
Even with limited minutes from ailing captain and star winger Tranh Thi Thanh Tuy (T4), Vietnam had an absolute workhorse of an attacker in Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen who punished the nationals with 30 points on 27 attacks, three blocks and six digs.
Alas relied on former PVL MVP Sisi Rondina to deliver the goods on offense with 15 attack points, five digs and four receptions.
Angel Canino dished out 12 points and eight digs along with 11 combined markers from Taft towers Fifi Sharma and Thea Gagate.
That match marked Bella Belen’s Alas Pilipinas debut where she was sparingly used but still put up two points, six digs and five receptions.
In the end, Vietnam out-attacked the Philippines by a slim 44 to 41 margin.
It would be in blocking (9 to 2), serving (3 to 2) and producing seven less errors (12 to 19) in which they’d gain much-needed separation from the hosts.
Fine mix of Alas holdovers and newcomers
Nine out of the 14-strong Challenger Cup veterans are still with Alas Women in their trip to the AVC Nations Cup final.
This year’s newly-added quintet features debutants Alyssa Solomon, Shaina Nitura and Cla Loresco join returnees Eya Laure and Jen Nierva.
The five players axed from the Challenger Cup squad were Rondina, Jema Galanza, Faith Nisperos, Arah Panique and Cherry Nunag.
As far as Vietnam is concerned, T4 is back at full strength and still has Nguyen for company as they look to win their third straight Nations Cup title on home soil.
They have only dropped one set in the five matches they’ve played in the tournament — that being Set 2 of their knockout semifinals win over Kazakhstan.
Meanwhile, the Philippines is no stranger to pulling off miraculous performances in that part of the world.
And perhaps, this could be the year for another one.
Saturday’s final will be the first in AVC-sanctioned play for any Philippine volleyball team over the course of 64 years.
Alas Women will be challengers once more to Vietnam in Hanoi for Nations Cup glory, with first serve at 9 p.m. (Manila time).
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