MANILA, Philippines – Alas Pilipinas’ Cinderella run came to an end at the hands of a dominant Vietnam side, falling 25–15, 25–17, and 25–14 in the AVC Nations Cup finals on Saturday, June 14, 2025. Despite the tough loss, the nationals will head home proud, bringing with them a historic silver finish.
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| Alas Pilipinas wins silver at the AVC Nations Cup and climbs 10 spots in the FIVB world rankings. Photo Credit: X/Alas Pilipinas |
Vietnam burst out to a 3–0 lead, energizing the home crowd to start the AVC Championships. But the Philippines stayed composed and swiftly pulled level.
Vietnam's ace, Ng Bich Tuyen, took charge after the Philippines' equalizer, sparking a quick scoring burst that doubled their lead and forced Coach Jorge de Brito to call a timeout.
Coach Jorge de Brito opted to start Thea Gagate in the finals, previously kept under wraps to avoid scouting, to boost Alas' firepower. However, Gagate struggled to score as Vietnam's defense delivered impeccable digs.
With Gagate contained, Opposite Hitter Alyssa Solomon stepped up, delivering key points to keep her team afloat against the unbeaten home side.
Alas made a late push to trim the gap, but Vietnam remained in control and took the first set convincingly, 25–15.
The taller Vietnamese dominated on both offense and defense, making it tough for even Bella Belen, this year’s PVL top pick, to find an opening in the second set.
Unlike the first set, the Philippines claimed its first lead of the match, sparked by Eya Laure, Fifi Sharma, and the growing confidence of the rest of the squad.
Alas’ lead was short-lived, as Tuyen and Tran Thanh Thuy took over and unleashed a barrage of attacks from all corners of the court.
After regaining the lead, Vietnam maintained their momentum, capitalizing on every opportunity and keeping Alas on their heels. The home team never looked back and sealed the second set with a dominant 25–17 finish.
Angel Canino, coming off the bench, made her presence felt in the third set alongside rookie Shaina Nitura, providing a spark for Alas Pilipinas.
Aside from Vietnam’s tight defense, the Philippines committed several crucial unforced errors that allowed their rivals to pull away decisively.
The Philippine squad knew the end was near, but they showed grit and composure, finishing the match with unwavering fight and pride.
Despite it being her first international stint in national colors, Nitura impressed with her crafty attacks, earning the admiration of the Vietnamese crowd.
Alas Pilipinas ended their brave AVC Nations Cup run with a 25–14 final set loss to Vietnam, settling for a proud silver finish.
De Guzman, Canino, and Dell Palomata earned individual honors at the 2025 AVC Nations Cup, winning Best Setter, Best Outside Hitter, and Best Middle Blocker, respectively.
AVC Nations Cup - Best Outside Hitter, Best Middle Blocker and Best Setter - Mga 🇵🇭ALAS PILIPINAS! 💪 pic.twitter.com/2jCMwVHb7d
— AlasPilipinasVolley (@AlasPilipinasVB) June 14, 2025
Alas Pilipinas may have missed out on the gold, but the country made a significant leap in the FIVB world rankings, climbing from 56th to 46th after an inspiring AVC campaign.
Their climb was powered by key victories over Mongolia, New Zealand, Kazakhstan, and a thrilling five-set semifinal win against Chinese Taipei (3‑2), which propelled them into the final.
For the first time since the 1962 Asian Games, the Philippines has reached the finals of an international women’s volleyball tournament—ending a 63-year drought.
At the 2025 AVC Challenge Cup in Hanoi, Alas Pilipinas made history by securing a spot in the gold medal match, marking their first-ever finals appearance in an AVC-sanctioned event.
— Joey Boy Capos, The Summit Express