Expect fireworks as Alas Pilipinas takes on Thailand’s Est Cola in a marquee knockout clash for the right to advance in the semifinals of the 2025 VTV Cup today at the Vinh Phuc Gymnasium in Vietnam.

Riding the crest of their back-to-back wins to conclude the Pool A preliminary round, the Filipinas are going all-out in the quarterfinal slated at 8 p.m. (Manila time).

Alas finished the group stage at No. 2 with a 2-1 win-loss record behind unbeaten Vietnam.

The Pinay spikers bounced back from a stinging opening day sweep at the hands of the Vietnamese in a rematch of the AVC Nations Cup final three weeks ago in Hanoi with consecutive wins over China’s Sichuan Wuliangchun and Australia.

Newcomers Filipino-Americans Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips have been consistent on offense while Leila Cruz and Vanie Gandler as well as young guns Amie Provido and Alleiah Malaluan have been providing the much-needed firepower in Alas’ run.

The same faces starred in Alas’ 25-12, 25-22, 19-25, 25-15, victory over Sichuan last Monday before crushing Australia, 25-13, 25-15, 25-20, the following day.

However, Alas is expected to encounter tough resistance from the Thais.

“Thailand is a very strong team. So, we can’t relax and hopefully we get to make adjustments with our lapses (against Australia) and keep improving and moving forward,” Gandler, who dropped 11 points against the Aussies, said.

Alas winger Eya Laure is expected after feeling under the weather in the last two games.

Est Cola, represented by Thailand’s Under-21 core reinforced by former Creamline import Kuttika Kaewpin and Natthimar Kubkaew.

Thailand landed as the third seed in Pool B after a 1-2 finish.

Alas is looking to advance in the Final Four for the first time since Choco Mucho won bronze in the 2023 edition. The last time the Philippine national team participated in the tourney was back in 2015, finishing last in a six-nation field.

The other quarters pairings pit Russia’s Korabelka against Australia, Chinese Taipei taking on Sinchuan and Vietnam testing the mettle of its U21 team.