Alas Pilipinas Secures Silver After Defeat by Vietnam in AVC Nations Cup

MANILA, Philippines — In a commanding performance, the Vietnam women's volleyball team triumphed over Alas Pilipinas to clinch the gold medal in the AVC Women's Nations Cup final held at the Dong Anh Arena on Saturday night, June 14, 2025. The match concluded with a score of 15-25, 17-25, 14-25, illustrating the disparity in experience and skill between the two teams.

The Filipino team, known as Alas Pilipinas, displayed commendable effort but struggled against a taller, faster, and more seasoned Vietnamese squad, which has now secured the championship title for the third consecutive year. According to Alyssa Solomon, a key player for the Philippines, “We fought hard, but Vietnam's experience and strategy proved to be a significant challenge.” Solomon led Alas Pilipinas with eight points, while teammate Shaina Nitura contributed six points.

Despite the defeat, the silver medal marks a significant achievement for the Philippine team, representing its highest finish in an AVC tournament to date. The team showed resilience, particularly in the second set, where they managed to lead briefly at 13-14 before Vietnam surged ahead to close out the match.

Vietnam's star player, Thi Thanh Thuy Tran, known as 'T4', showcased her prowess by scoring 17 points, complemented by three blocks and one ace. Her performance was critical in sealing the victory for Vietnam. Another standout, Thi Bich Tuyen Nguyen, added strength to the team’s offense with 20 points, including 16 attacks and two aces.

In analyzing the match statistics, Alas Pilipinas was outmatched in both attacks, with Vietnam achieving 49 to the Philippines' 27, and in service aces, where Vietnam led 7-0. These figures reflect the depth of skill present in the Vietnamese team, as noted by Dr. Michelle Reyes, a sports analyst at the University of the Philippines. She stated, “The numbers clearly indicate the level of preparation and execution by the Vietnamese team, which has consistently been ahead in terms of development and competition.”

The AVC Women's Nations Cup serves as a significant platform for teams across Asia to showcase their talent and compete at a high level. The Philippine volleyball program has seen growth in recent years, and while this silver medal is a setback in the final match, it serves as a stepping stone for future competitions.

Looking forward, the Philippine team is expected to regroup and assess their strategies as they prepare for upcoming international tournaments, aiming to build on their performance in the AVC Nations Cup. Coach Mark Villanueva remarked, “This experience will help us identify our weaknesses and strengths moving forward. We aim to be more competitive in the future.”

As the volleyball community anticipates the next AVC tournament, the focus will be on how Alas Pilipinas can leverage this experience to enhance their performance and possibly contend for gold in future competitions.