Vietnamese standout Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen proved unstoppable against Alas Pilipinas, dashing the Philippines' hopes of advancing to the Volleyball Nations League (VNL) with a straight-set victory, 14-25, 22-25, 21-25, Friday evening at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.
After a sluggish start in the first set, Alas found their rhythm in the second set, led by Angel Canino, Bella Belen, Sisi Rondina, and Fifi Sharma, who kept the game competitive against the defending AVC Challenge Cup champions.
Vietnam, however, surged ahead late in the set with Tuyen's pivotal off-the-block attack, edging out Alas Pilipinas despite a spirited comeback attempt that narrowed the score to 22-23 with a 4-1 run orchestrated by Thea Gagate, Rondina, and Canino.
The third set saw Alas Pilipinas fight fiercely, with Vanie Gandler providing a crucial spark that briefly leveled the score at 20-all, hinting at a potential comeback.
Yet, Tuyen's dominant performance, including a decisive 4-0 run that secured Vietnam's match point at 24-20, ultimately sealed the fate of the Philippines.
Team captain Jia De Guzman expressed pride in her team's relentless effort despite the defeat saying, “I’m very proud of the girls talaga because I saw that everyone fought hard, every point, and until the end, we really gave our best.”
Tuyen's exceptional performance led Vietnam to the semifinals, where they are set to face Czechia, showcasing her game-high 30 points from 27 attacks and three blocks.
On the Philippine side, Sisi Rondina led the scoring with 15 points, all from successful attacks, while Angel Canino contributed 12 points in a hard-fought loss.
With valuable experience gained from the AVC and FIVB Challenger Cups, Alas Pilipinas looks ahead to future tournaments, including the upcoming SEA V-League and the prestigious SEA Games, aiming to build on their progress and strengthen their team cohesion moving forward.
