Alas Pilipinas came up short of a podium finish after a heartbreaking 17-25, 24-26, 22-25, loss to Chinese Taipei in the 2025 VTV battle for bronze Saturday at the Vinh Phuc Gymnasium in Vietnam.
Costly errors and late set meltdowns factored in Alas’ second straight defeat to finish the tournament empty-handed.
Filipino-American Brooke Van Sickle, Eya Laure and Vanie Gandler willed Alas back in the third set. However, it was also the trio that committed the last three miscues of the match as the Taiwanese avenged their semifinals defeat to the Filipinas in the AVC Nations Cup last month.
Alas fought back from three points down midway in the third frame with a scorching 5-1 counterattack to get in front, 20-19. Laure sent her service long in the next play, Van Sickle took it back with a kill before MJ Phillips gave Alas its final taste of the lead, 22-21.
Back-to-back errors by Van Sickle from the service line and an overcooked spike by Laure gave Chinese Taipei the opening to regain control.
Taiwan shattered Alas’ two-woman block in the ensuing play before Gandler hit her attack long as Alas yielded.
The Filipinas, who took silver in the Nations Cup, dropped a four-set semifinal game Friday against unbeaten Russian team Korabelka, which is playing Vietnam in the gold medal match as of posting time.
Alas squandered a 23-22 lead in the second set as it allowed Taiwan to fire back with consecutive points to move at set point. Van Sickle forced a deuce at 24 before Chinese Taipei completed a comeback with a closing two straight hits.