Alas Pilipinas Women at VTV Cup 2025 in Vietnam. Usports/Facebook
MANILA, Philippines – Alas Pilipinas could not ride the momentum of a gutsy Set 2 win, falling short against VTV Cup defending champion Korabelka of Russia in four sets, 16-25, 27-25, 17-25, 22-25, in the semifinals of the Vietnam-hosted competition on Friday.
The national team still has a chance to finish at the podium, taking a spot in the third-place match on Saturday.
They will face either the host nation or Chinese Taipei for the bronze medal.
In the opening frame, the Russians already flexed their sharp spiking and great wall on the net, cruising to a 25-16 set win.
Only an 8-all count off Brooke Van Sickle's sharp cross and MJ Phillips ace, the Russians slowly pulled away, banking on a 10-4 rally to take Set 1 for good.
However, Alas did not bow quietly in the night.
The Nationals proved that they are not pushovers, putting up a gallant stand powered by Alleiah Malaluan's heroics in Set 2.
With the Russians poised to clinch a 2-0 set lead, 22-24, Phillips and Malaluan kept Alas alive with an off-the-block kill and a surprise hit, respectively, to push the frame to the limit, 24-apiece.
Alas immediately called for a break after the other side reached set point again after a block on Phillips, 24-25.
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Malaluan found the long shot to knot things up, the Russians conceded a point on an error, and the ex-La Salle star found the set-clinching point from the backrow, 27-25.
The Russians tried to challenge late for a net fault, to no avail.
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Korabelka proved to be more composed as it took the succeeding chapter and the lead, 2-1, off a 25-17 set win.
The Philippines had its last gasp in Set 4 after erasing a seven-point 15-8 deficit, eventually closing in at 15-14.
Alas Women kept the match in striking distance later, only trailing by one, 19-18, but the Russians found the attacks and the ace to make it a four-point 22-18 lead.
A Lams Lamina ace and an attack error from Korabelka gave Alas some lifeline, 23-21, but the sharp-spiking Russian side found the into-the-block kill to reach match point, 24-21.
Tia Andaya saved one match point off a push coming from a back set by Lamina, 24-22, but their rivals found the kill on Malaluan's hands to finally clinch the Finals spot, sending Philippines to the bronze match.