ONCE AGAIN, Alas Pilipinas is headed to the semifinals — this time in the 2025 VTV Cup in Vietnam. The Philippine women’s volleyball team cruised past Thailand’s Est Cola in straight sets, 25-17, 25-21, 25-21, on Thursday.

After thrilling fans in Phu Tho by securing quarterfinal spots with back-to-back wins over Australia and China’s Sichuan Wuliang Chun in the group stage, Alas now eyes another podium finish.

The victory not only sent the Philippines to the Final Four but also assured the team of at least a fourth-place finish — a major step up from National University’s last-place standing in 2024.

Taking full advantage of a rest day, the Filipinas returned to action energized and focused, with Eya Laure leading a dominant performance that carried them to victory.

Next Up: The Semifinals

The first set was neck-and-neck early, with the score tied at 13. Alas then pulled away with an 8-0 blitz, sparked by five Brooke Van Sickle attacks and aided by three Est Cola errors, to take control of the opener.

In the second set, Thailand surged ahead 19-18 after trailing 15-17, but Van Sickle and Laure answered swiftly with a 3-0 run, flipping the momentum back to the Filipinas at 21-19.

Yen Nhi delivered back-to-back hits to level things at 21-all, but Alas responded with a clutch 4-0 rally, ending with a Laure ace to take a commanding two-set lead.

Thailand came out strong in the third, going up 13-10, but the Nationals held firm under pressure. A 10-2 scoring burst — featuring a soft tip and an off-the-block strike from Vanie Gandler — gave them a 20-15 cushion.

Maddie Madayag followed with a key block, Gandler fired an ace, Laure nailed another off-the-block point, and a service error from Vi Thi Yen Nhi sealed the deal.

Awaiting them in the semifinals is defending champion Korabelka of Russia, who punched their ticket by sweeping Australia earlier, 25-16, 25-16, 25-21.