Powerhouse Vietnam flexed its muscle in a quick work of Alas Pilipinas, 25-15, 25-17, 25-14, in the final to complete a three-peat in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup Saturday night at the Dong Anh District Center for Culture, Information and Sports in Hanoi.

Thi Bich Tuyen Nguyen and veteran star Thi Thanh Thuy Tran connived in punishing Alas with power hits as the host team closed the tournament unscathed.

Underdog Philippines, which played in its first-ever gold medal match in an Asian level tourney, showed some semblance of resistance until midway in the second set before the Vietnamese behind Tuyen and Thuy unleashed a 7-0 blitz to pull away for good.

Smelling blood, Vietnam finished off Alas despite some defiance shown by young Pinay spiker Shaina Nitura in the third.

Alyssa Solomon finished with eight points while Shaina Nitura got six - all in the third frame - for Alas, which improved to a runner-up finish after winning a historic bronze medal last year.

Tuyen, who was named Most Valuable Player and Best Opposite Spiker, peppered Alas with 20 points coming off 16 attacks, two kill blocks and two aces. Thuy had 17 markers for the hometown bets.

For the second straight year, Alas skipper and playmaker Jia De Guzman was feted Best Setter, last year’s Best Opposite Spiker Angel Canino snatched Best Open Spiker while Dell Palomata was named Best Middle Blocker.

Rounding out the individual awards winners were Thuy (Best Open Spiker), Chinese Taipei’s Kan Ko-Hui (Best Middle Blocker) and Nguyen Khanh Dang (Best Libero).       

Meanwhile, Chinese Taipei salvaged a podium finish with a 17-25, 25-13, 25-16, 25-13, victory over Kazakhstan in the battle for bronze medal.