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Alas Pilipinas at VTV Cup 2025. Usports/FacebookMANILA — Alas Pilipinas is through to the semifinals of VTV Cup 2025 in Vietnam.
This, as the Nationals made fast work of Thailand's U21 team Est Cola, 25-17, 25-21, 25-21, on Thursday in Phu Tho.
They advanced to the quarterfinals on a high, embracing back-to-back wins at Australia and China's Sichuan Wuliangchun's expense in the pool play.
READ: VTV Cup: Alas Pilipinas sweeps Australia, concludes pool phase with 2 wins
Waiting in the next round is Russian club and defending champion Korabelka, which made it to the semis after thwarting Australia earlier in the day, 25-16, 25-16, 25-21.
Along with Australia, Est Cola is also relegated to the 5th–8th semifinals following their losses.
After cruising to a quick win in the opener, 25-17, the younger Thais kept Set 2 close and even led late, 19-18.
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But after Jorge de Brito rallied his wards at the 21-all mark after a timeout, Eya Laure and Dell Palomata found the scores on an attack, a block, and ace coupled by an error from the Thais for a 4-0 final push, taking a 2-0 lead.
In the final chapter, the Philippines reached match point, 24-18, but the Thais were still able to save three match points, closing in at 24-21.
However, a Thai serve went sailed out, gifting the semifinal berth to the Filipinas, 25-21.