Alas Pilipinas bounced back from their tough straight-sets loss to Vietnam the other day with a 25-12, 25-22, 19-25, 25-15 triumph over China’s Sichuan Wuliangchun at the Vinh Phuc Gymnasium in Vietnam in the continuation of the 2025 VTV Women’s International Cup.
The Filipinas roared from the get-go, asserting their will and talent with sharp serves and steady blocking to get an early lead. Alas continued their dominant first set to register an easy victory in the opening frame for a much-needed confidence boost.
The Chinese squad, however, proved to be no pushovers, responding brilliantly from their first set defeat to take the action to the Philippines. In the second set, Sichuan took Alas to the brink, threatening at 23-22 with an emphatic denial on Vanie Gandler at the net. The Filipinas ultimately repulsed Sichuan’s spirited challenge, with Brooke Van Sickle scoring off the back row and Gandler putting the set to rest with a put-away off a mishandled pass.
Adversity and Pulling Through: Alas Pilipinas Roars to Victory
Set 2 was a harbinger of things to come as Sichuan carried some momentum to the third frame, where they raced to a 16-10 advantage as Alas Pilipinas started off slow. The Jorge de Brito-coached squad couldn’t find their form in that third set on their way to a 25-19 loss.
Suddenly faced with adversity after threatening a sweep, Alas Pilipinas responded in the very next set led by Van Sickle, Leila Cruz, and MJ Phillips. The three, all newcomers to the team, sparked a 5-1 mini-run to turn a tight 12-11 contest to a 17-11 cushion. Dell Palomata contributed as well, defending the net to help Alas Pilipinas extend the lead to 23-13.
Fittingly, Gandler again scored the marginal points, delivering on a combination hit to stake Alas Pilipinas to match point and then scoring on a deflection at the net to seal the squad’s first win in the 2025 VTV Women’s International Cup.
Alas Pilipinas will next take on Australia to conclude the group phase, with a win ensuring them of a spot in the crossover knockout semis.
