via Louwie C. Mantilla, Pressroom PH
After 64 years of waiting, Alas Pilipinas finally broke through the continental barrier.
The Philippine women's volleyball team claimed its first-ever finals slot at the 2025 AVC Women's Volleyball Nations Cup after hacking out a five-set semifinals victory against Chinese Taipei (25-17, 25-21, 18-25, 15-25, 15-12), held at the Đông Anh Gymnasium in Hanoi, Vietnam, on June 13.
It was a massive improvement from their bronze medal finish in 2024, and the win also marked the country’s highest placement in an Asian-level tournament since the 1961 Asian Volleyball Championship.
But despite rewriting the books, Alas was not able to sustain its momentum upon facing the home court heroes — facing a forceful sweep against the taller Vietnamese team on the next day.
The Filipinas ran into a well-oiled Vietnam squad playing in front of a roaring home crowd, succumbing to a straight-sets loss (19-25, 17-25, 20-25) to conclude a silver medal finish.
Vietnam’s strategy revolved around precision and timing while leaning on the tournament MVP Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen and veteran captain Tran Thi Thanh Thuy, who scored 17 and 20 points, respectively, to rule the tournament.
No player from the Philippine squad reached double digits in the finals match, with Alyssa Solomon leading the team with eight points.
Despite the sweep, the Filipinas did not go home empty-handed in terms of individual accolades.
Three players were honored at the conclusion of the tournament — Jia De Guzman was named Best Setter, Angel Canino earned Best Outside Spiker, and Dell Palomata was recognized as Best Middle Blocker.
Canino stood out across the tournament with 74 total points, coming from 62 attacks, seven blocks, and five aces, to average 10.57 points per game.
The second-place finish also boosted the Philippines’ world ranking, climbing from No. 56 to No. 46, marking a pivotal moment in the team’s development and international standing.
