ALAS Pilipinas will make an early exit in the 2024 FIVB Women’s Challenger Cup as Vietnam dominated in straight sets, 25-14, 25-22, 25-21, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium in Manila on Friday, July 5.
2024 AVC Challenge Cup MVP Thi Bich Tuyen Nguyen continued her dominant run for Vietnam, as she single-handedly overpowered Alas with 30 points from 27 attacks and three blocks.
From the get-go, Vietnam flexed its might over the Philippines as Alas’ only lead in the match came after their 1-0 start.
Alas was able to keep in step in the second set, even tying the game at 14-all behind UAAP stars Bella Belen and Angel Canino. However, the entrance of Thi Thanh Thuy Tran, more known as T4, gave Vietnam the edge once more. T4 finished the match with two points.
While the Philippines mounted a huge rally to close the gap to a single point at 23-22, a service error by Angel Canino and a kill block by middle blocker Thi Trinh Nguyen on Fifi Sharma sealed the set win for the world no. 34 team.
Riding on that momentum, the Vietnamese once again built an early 8-2 lead in the third set. Alas Pilipinas would once again claw their way back into the game, even taking the lead at 18-17 through the efforts of Sisi Rondina, who finished with 14 points.
But time and time again, it was Tuyen Nguyen, who provided the necessary push to lift Vietnam, as she scored the team’s four of the last five points.
Down 24-20, Vanie Gandler managed to score a point for Alas, but Rondina’s attack sailed wide leading to the victory for the Vietnamese.
Alas Pilipinas will take this experience as a lesson heading to the SEA V.League.
Vietnam will now face Czechia–fresh of their straight-set victory over Argentina earlier today. Kiko Demigillo, One Sports
