Alas Pilipinas halted a seven-year losing skid to defending champion Vietnam with a 22-25, 25-23, 25-21, 25-22, upset to stay in the medal hunt of the second leg of the 2026 Southeast Asian Women’s V Cup Saturday at the Chiang Mai Sports Complex in Thailand.

Eya Laure powered the Philippines to its first win this season after a winless outing in the first leg and a straight-set loss to host Thailand in the opener the day before.

With an even 1-1 win-loss record, the Filipinas remain in contention for a return to the podium after seeing their four straight bronze medal finishes snapped.    

Laure, who was just a rookie with the national squad when it defeated the Vietnamese in the 2019 edition, then known as the ASEAN Grand Prix, stepped up in the fourth set coming up with a huge kill to put Alas at match point and a bigger kill block for the finisher.

The Choco Mucho winger came up with 22 points from 19 kills, two kill blocks and an ace for Alas.

Alas squandered a 19-13 lead in the fourth frame as the Vietnamese mounted a rousing rally with Pham Quynh Huong scoring big hits to tie the frame at 22.

Bella Belen stopped Alas’ bleeding before Laure’s off the block kill for match point. The University of Santo Tomas product then shut the door on Tran Thi Thanh Thuy to seal the win.

Leg 1 Best Opposite Hitter Alyssa Solomon added 17 points, while Belen got 16 markers and Thea Gagate scored six of her 10 points from kill blocks for Alas.

Alas will battle Indonesia on Sunday for a medal finish.

Thuy posted 25 points, Huong had 14, while Tran Thi Bich Thuy chipped in 12 in a losing effort as Vietnam fell to a 0-2 slate.