Alas Women school young Thais, set semis clash with VTV champ Korabelka

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Alas Pilipinas wins its 3rd straight match in the 2025 VTV Cup, sweeping young Thailand Under-21 to arrange a blockbuster knockout semifinal with Russian defending champion Korabelka

MANILA, Philippines – Alas Pilipinas Women continued their torrid run through the 2025 VTV Cup field, winning their third straight match to reach the semifinals after schooling the Est Cola-Thailand U21 national team, 25-17, 25-21, 25-21, in Hanoi, Vietnam on Thursday, July 3.

The feisty Filipinas immediately prepare for a quick turnaround less than 24 hours later on Friday, July 4, 3:30 pm (Manila time) as they take on undefeated defending champion Korabelka of Russia in a blockbuster knockout semifinal.

Surviving a real scare from the young Thais after an easy opening set, Alas battled back from a 19-18 deficit in the second with a big 7-2 surge to take a commanding 2-0 lead, 25-21.

Est Cola again threatened late in the third, just down 16-15, but the veteran Alas group of Jia de Guzman, Eya Laure, and Vanie Gandler, among others, took turns staging another breakaway finish for the clean sweep.

The Vietnam seniors team is widely expected to demolish its U21 counterpart in the last quarterfinal match and will in all likelihood face powerful Chinese Taipei in the other semis bracket.

Should the chips fall the way of Vietnam and Alas, the two squads could arrange another tournament knockout final just weeks after their 2025 AVC Nations Cup gold medal match, which Vietnam won in straight sets. – Rappler.com