MANILA, Philippines – Alas Pilipinas bowed out of the 2024 FIVB Challenger Cup after yielding to Southeast Asian powerhouse Vietnam in straight sets, 25-14, 25-22, 25-21, in the knockout quarterfinal match of 2024 FIVB Challenger Cup on Friday, July 5, at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium.

Nguyen Thi Bich Nguyen fired 30 points to power the Vietnamese, the last Asian team standing in the tournament where the winner will earn a spot in the Volleyball Nations League.

Sisi Rondina paced the Philippines with 15 points, while Angel Canino added 12 points.

FIVB CHALLENGER CUP | WATCH:

Vietnam's recovering superstar Tran Thi Thanh Thuy shares her thoughts on the #FIVBChallengerCup2024 competition, getting back on the court after her injury, and facing gallant Alas Pilipinas.#FIVBChallengerCup pic.twitter.com/KrZdukecdZ

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) July 5, 2024

FIVB CHALLENGER CUP | WATCH:

Returning national team star Bella Belen shares her thoughts on her comeback for the Philippines, bonding and chemistry with her teammates, and her long-awaited team-up with fellow UAAP MVP Angel Canino.#FIVBChallengerCup #FIVBChallengerCup2024 pic.twitter.com/wywbhQmOqh

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) July 5, 2024

FIVB CHALLENGER CUP | WATCH:

Reigning PVL Finals MVP Jema Galanza shares her thoughts on facing Vietnam in the #FIVBChallengerCup2024, returning for the national team, and adapting through last-minute position changes from libero to outside hitter.#FIVBChallengerCup pic.twitter.com/w3NaFe9GNO

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) July 5, 2024

FIVB CHALLENGER CUP | WATCH:

"You can't expect na isang talo, isang adversity, palit agad."

Alas Pilipinas captain Jia de Guzman talks about learning from their #FIVBChallengerCup2024 loss, prepping for the SEA V. League, and keeping continuity within the team's ranks. pic.twitter.com/9IpMbDHC3e

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) July 5, 2024

THIRD SET

• FINAL: Vietnam completes a sweep of Alas Pilipinas after fending off the Filipinas’ gallant third-set stand, 25-21.
• VIETNAM 25-21: Sisi Rondina attack error, wide
• VIETNAM 24-21: Vanie Gandler through the block
• VIETNAM 24-20: Nguyen Thi Bich Nguyen cross
• VIETNAM 23-20: Alas Pilipinas net touch
• VIETNAM 22-20: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen down the line. Timeout Philippines
• VIETNAM 21-20: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen through the block
• VIETNAM 20-20: Vanie Gandler cross
• VIETNAM 20-19: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen cross
• ALAS PILIPINAS 19-19: Sisi Rondina service error, antenna
• ALAS PILIPINAS 19-18: Thea Gagate quick attack
• ALAS PILIPINAS 18-18: Nguyen Thi Trinh running attack
• ALAS PILIPINAS 18-17: Vietnam attack error, not over
• VIETNAM 17-17: Angel Canino down the line
• VIETNAM 17-16: Alas Pilipinas four touches/Vietnam 1-2 play
• VIETNAM 16-16: Sisi Rondina cross
• VIETNAM 16-15: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen service error, net
• VIETNAM 16-14: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen cross
• VIETNAM 15-14: Vietnam block point
• VIETNAM 14-14: Vanie Gandler backrow hit
• VIETNAM 14-13: Vietnam antenna hit. Timeout Vietnam
• VIETNAM 14-12: Sisi Rondina off the block
• VIETNAM 14-11: Angel Canino attack error, not over
• VIETNAM 13-11: Tran Thi Thanh Thuy service error, net
• VIETNAM 13-10: Tran Thi Thanh Thuy off the block
• VIETNAM 12-10: Fifi Sharma quick attack
• VIETNAM 12-9: Angel Canino through the block
• VIETNAM 12-8: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen down the line
• VIETNAM 11-8: Sisi Rondina cross
• VIETNAM 11-7: Nguyen Thi Trinh running attack
• VIETNAM 10-7: Thea Gagate quick attack
• VIETNAM 10-6: Nguyen Thi Trinh blocks Sisi Rondina
• VIETNAM 9-6: Sisi Rondina off the block
• VIETNAM 9-5: Sisi Rondina cross
• VIETNAM 9-4: Vietnam floor touch challenge successful
• VIETNAM 8-4: Vanie Gandler ace
• VIETNAM 8-3: Vietnam net touch
• VIETNAM 8-2: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen cross
• VIETNAM 7-2: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen blocks Vanie Gandler
• VIETNAM 6-2: Angel Canino service error, long
• VIETNAM 5-2: Angel Canino cross
• VIETNAM 5-1: Vanie Gandler attack error, long
• VIETNAM 4-1: Tran Thi Thanh Thuy ace
• VIETNAM 3-1: Alas Pilipinas four touches
• VIETNAM 2-1: Tran Thi Thanh Thuy ace
• ALAS PILIPINAS 1-1: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen off the block

SECOND SET

FIVB CHALLENGER CUP | END OF SET 2:

Alas Pilipinas puts up a better fight this time, but Vietnam still escapes for the 2-0 lead, 25-22!#FIVBChallengerCup #FIVBChallengerCup2024

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) July 5, 2024

• END OF SET 2: Alas Pilipinas puts up a better fight, but Vietnam escapes for the 2-0 lead, 25-22
• VIETNAM 25-22: Nguyen Thi Trinh blocks Thea Gagate
• VIETNAM 24-22: Angel Canino service error, net
• VIETNAM 23-22: Angel Canino ace
• VIETNAM 23-21: Sisi Rondina off the block
• VIETNAM 23-20: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen cross
• VIETNAM 22-20: Angel Canino cross
• VIETNAM 22-19: Thea Gagate quick attack
• VIETNAM 22-18: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen off the block
• VIETNAM 21-18: Bella Belen service error, net
• VIETNAM 20-18: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen net touch
• VIETNAM 20-17: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen attack error, wide
• VIETNAM 20-16: Angel Canino down the line
• VIETNAM 20-15: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen down the line. Timeout Philippines
• VIETNAM 18-15: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen cross
• VIETNAM 17-15: Thea Gagate joust win
• VIETNAM 17-14: Vietnam block point, 3-0 run. Timeout Philippines
• VIETNAM 16-14: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen off the block
• VIETNAM 15-14: Jema Galanza service error, long
• VIETNAM 14-14: Fifi Sharma running attack. Jema Galanza checks in for the first time
• VIETNAM 14-13: Nguyen Thi Trinh off the block
• VIETNAM 13-13: Fifi Sharma running attack off the long rally
• VIETNAM 13-12: Alas Pilipinas service error, long
• VIETNAM 12-12: Vietnam attack error. Tran Thi Thanh Thuy checks in for the first time
• VIETNAM 12-11: Vietnam rotation error. Timeout Vietnam.
• VIETNAM 12-10: Bella Belen backrow hit
• VIETNAM 12-8: Angel Canino cross
• VIETNAM 12-7: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen cross
• VIETNAM 11-7: Sisi Rondina through the block
• VIETNAM 11-6: Sisi Rondina through the block
• VIETNAM 11-5: Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh off the block
• VIETNAM 10-5: Le Thanh Thuy quick attack
• VIETNAM 9-5: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen attack error, long
• VIETNAM 9-4: Nguyen Thi Trinh running attack
• VIETNAM 8-4: Nguyen Thi Trinh running attack
• VIETNAM 7-4: Angel Canino down the line
• VIETNAM 7-3: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen cross
• VIETNAM 6-3: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen down the line
• VIETNAM 5-3: Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh service error, net
• VIETNAM 5-2: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen cross
• VIETNAM 4-2: Sisi Rondina attack error, not over
• VIETNAM 3-2: Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh off the block
• VIETNAM 2-2: Fifi Sharma attack off the floating ball
• VIETNAM 2-1: Sisi Rondina attack error, wide
• VIETNAM 1-1: Angel Canino cross
• VIETNAM 1-0: Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh cross

FIRST SET

FIVB CHALLENGER CUP | END OF SET 1:

Vietnam blasts Alas Pilipinas to set the tone, 25-14!#FIVBChallengerCup2024

— Rappler Sports (@RapplerSports) July 5, 2024

• END OF SET 1: Vietnam blasts Alas Pilipinas to set the tone, 25-14
• VIETNAM 24-14: Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh off the block
• VIETNAM 23-14: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen through the block
• VIETNAM 22-14: Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh off the block
• VIETNAM 21-14: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen cross
• VIETNAM 20-14: Angel Canino cross
• VIETNAM 20-13: Pham Thi Hien blocks Angel Canino
• VIETNAM 19-13: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen off the block
• VIETNAM 18-13: Jia de Guzman 1-2 play
• VIETNAM 18-12: Tran Tu Linh off the block. Timeout Philippines
• VIETNAM 17-12: Fifi Sharma blocks Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen
• VIETNAM 17-11: Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh ace
• VIETNAM 16-11: Fifi Sharma attack error, long
• VIETNAM 15-11: Bella Belen attack error, wide
• VIETNAM 14-11: Sisi Rondina down the line
• VIETNAM 14-10: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen cross
• VIETNAM 13-10: Sisi Rondina cross
• VIETNAM 13-9: Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh combi play
• VIETNAM 12-9: Sisi Rondina off the block
• VIETNAM 12-8: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen cross
• VIETNAM 11-8: Sisi Rondina cross
• VIETNAM 11-7: Bella Belen through the block
• VIETNAM 11-6: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen cross
• VIETNAM 10-6: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen attack error, wide
• VIETNAM 10-5: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen cross
• VIETNAM 9-5: Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen down the line
• VIETNAM 8-5: Vietnam net touch
• VIETNAM 8-4: Angel Canino cross
• VIETNAM 8-3: Tran Tu Linh blocks Bella Belen
• VIETNAM 7-3: Hoang Thi Kieu Trinh cross
• VIETNAM 6-3: Fifi Sharma quick attack
• VIETNAM 6-2: Le Thanh Thuy ace
• VIETNAM 5-2: Alas Pilipinas net touch
• VIETNAM 4-2: Nguyen Thi Trinh blocks Sisi Rondina
• VIETNAM 3-2: Angel Canino service error, wide
• VIETNAM 2-2: Angel Canino cross
• VIETNAM 2-1: Tran Tu Linh cross
• ALAS PILIPINAS 1-1: Le Thanh Thuy block
• ALAS PILIPINAS 1-0: Sisi Rondina cross
• ALAS PILIPINAS STARTERS: Fifi Sharma, Bella Belen, Jia de Guzman, Angel Canino, Thea Gagate, Sisi Rondina, Dawn Catindig

Preview

The history-making Alas Pilipinas women’s volleyball team is back in action with bigger stakes ahead, as it takes on Southeast Asian powerhouse Vietnam in the 2024 FIVB Challenger Cup at the Ninoy Aquino Stadium on Friday, July 5.

Housed just a few paces away from the Rizal Memorial Coliseum where it made Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) history with a bronze finish, Alas is once again expected to receive full-house support from its passionate home fans against a foe that had always given the Philippines big trouble in ASEAN competition.

With the status of Eya Laure, Jen Nierva, and returning prospect Alyssa Solomon in doubt due to various reasons, the likes of Angel Canino, the returning Bella Belen and Jema Galanza, and ever-reliable captain Jia de Guzman are expected to pick up the slack against the towering and experienced Vietnamese.

The likes of Sisi Rondina, Dawn Catindig, Thea Gagate, and Fifi Sharma are also tabbed to round out the star-studded team’s efforts in what is immediately a knockout quarterfinal showdown in this short, but important tournament.

A win against the world No. 34 Vietnamese will certainly be a massive step forward for the world No. 55 Filipinas, as their road to an improbable Volleyball Nations League (VNL) qualification only gets tougher the longer they survive. Regardless of results, Alas is set for an invaluable first-hand schooling.

Can the Philippines bring its giant-killing ways from basketball to volleyball, or will Vietnam once again have the upper hand?

First serve is at 6:30 pm. – Rappler.com