Alas falls short in VTV Cup semis

Alas Pilipinas made a gallant stand against a much taller and more experienced Russian club Korabelka but it was not enough to propel the team into the final stage of the 2025 VTV Cup.

The Filipinas suffered a stinging 16-25, 27-25, 17-25, 22-25, loss to the still unscathed Russians in the knockout semifinal Friday night at the Vinh Phuc Gymnasium in Vietnam.

Alas gave Korabelka quite a scare in the closing stretch of the fourth frame before the Russians found resolve to quell the uprising to advance to the championship match on Saturday.

Host Vietnam and Chinese Taipei are disputing the other final seat as of posting time.

Alas will try to salvage a podium finish against the loser of the other semis pairing.

Young gun Alleiah Malaluan starred in Alas’ second set comeback that leveled the match after the Pinays’ meltdown in the opening frame.

The PLDT rookie tied the set at 24 with a dink off a Korabelka’s misreceive capping Alas’ back-to-back saved set points. The Russians regained the advantage but Malaluan knotted it again at 25.

Malaluan then took the opportunity to seal the set after a costly error by Korabelka with a thunderous backrow hammer.

The Russian club struck back in the third set and controlled the fourth frame early. Alas rallied to breathe down Korabelka’s neck, 19-18, only for the Russians to string three straight points.

Alas made a final push to close the gap, 23-21, after a Lams Lamina ace. Korabelka moved on the cusp of victory but Filipino-American setter Tia Andaya scored on an off speed to save a match point.

It was, however, Alas’ final hurrah.

Alas, which booted out Thailand’s Est Cola in the quarterfinal Thursday behind the heroics of Brooke Van Sickle, MJ Phillips and Eya Laure, saw its three-game winning streak snapped.