Alas Pilipinas drops VTV Cup opener vs Vietnam

June 30 ------ More than two weeks apart, but the results were the same. Alas Pilipinas could not avenge its AVC Nations Cup 2025 Finals loss against Vietnam, dropping its VTV Cup 2025 opener 20-25, 21-25, 21-25, in Vinh Phuc province.

Vietnam unleashed a quick turnaround in the opening set, overtaking Alas from the 18-19 mark, built on a 7-1 run comprised of Trần Thị Thanh Thúy's running attack and ace, their blockers' assertion of force on the net against the spikes of Dell Palomata and Eya Laure, and Nguyễn Thị Bích Tuyền's set-clinching ace.

The Philippines erased an 18-11 deficit in the succeeding frame, showing its grit to close within two, 21-19. Vietnam quickly shook off the Filipino rally as the hosts found the rejection on Brooke Van Sickle later on to reach set point, 24-20. MJ Phillips found the combination play with Jia de Guzman to save one set point, but a Nguyễn Thị Bích Tuyền drop found the close out for the home bets, 25-21, installing a 2-0 lead.

Philippines kept it close until the 15-all mark in Set 3, but the Vietnamese found the points to establish an 18-15 lead, and kept the visitors at bay for the rest of the match. But before going down, DLSU Lady Spikers Alleiah Malaluan and Leila Cruz gave a glimpse of their respective prowesses late in that set, registering points for Alas.

Sichuan Wuliangchun of China is the Filipinas' next Pool A assignment, set for today.

Source: news.asb-cbn.com