Alas Pilipinas punches VTV Cup semis ticket

Confident Alas Pilipinas cruised to the Final Four after a clinical dismantling of Thailand’s Est Cola, 25-17, 25-21, 25-21, in the knockout quarterfinal of the 2025 VTV Cup Thursday at the Vinh Phuc Gymnasium in Vietnam.  

Eya Laure returned to action after a two-game absence due to an illness and provided the extra firepower to boot out the Thais, composed of under-21 players, as Alas earned a spot in the semifinal.

Alas, which finished second seed in Pool A of the preliminary round, set up a collision course against unbeaten Russian club Korabelka on Friday.

Semis action erupts at 3:30 p.m. (Manila time).

The Filipinas’ great resolve and mental toughness were in full display, rallying from a cold start in each of the sets to frustrate Est Cola.

Fil-Americans Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips and winger Vanie Gandler remained consistent in leading Alas’ assault along with Laure while young gun Leila Cruz added extra options for setter Jia De Guzman on offense.

Laure, who was feeling under the weather in the last two games of the prelims, starred in the closing stretch of the second frame where Alas shattered a 19-19 deadlock with a 6-2 finishing blitz capped by the ace winger’s service winner.

The Thais kept it close until midway in the third frame before Alas uncorked a 7-1 barrage punctuated by a Laure kill for a 21-16 lead.

Laure pushed Alas to match point, 24-18, with a thunderous smash. Maddie Madayag committed a service error that Est Cola tried to capitalize, stringing two more points to close in.

However, Thailand shot itself in the foot after committing a costly service error.

Alas braces for a tough semis match against Korabelka, which crushed its first four oppositions including a 25-16, 25-16, 25-12, quarters crushing of Australia.