Alas Pilipinas loses to Vietnam anew in VTV Cup opener
PVL MVP Brooke Van Sickle during her Alas Pilipinas debut. –U SPORTS PHOTO
SCHEDULE: Alas Pilipinas at VTV Women’s International Cup
MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas showed promise with key additions, but Vietnam proved too much in a 25-20, 25-21, 25-21 loss in the VTV Women’s International Cup opener on Sunday at Vin Phuc Gymnasium.
Brooke Van Sickle and MJ Phillips, whose transfer of federation from the United States is still in progress, impressed in their debut for the Philippine flag.
The Petro Gazz stars connected well to captain Jia De Guzman’s brilliant playmaking, while Leila Cruz, who was a reserved player in Alas’ silver medal finish in the 2025 AVC Nations Cup, was a revelation for coach Jorge De Brito’s team.
Van Sickle powered Alas with 12 points built on nine spikes, two blocks, and an ace. Cruz also scored 12 from 11 kills, while Phillips chipped in 10 points including two blocks.
Dell Palomata, the Nations Cup Best Middle Blocker, had four kill blocks to finish with seven points.
Vietnam, the three-peat Nations Cup champion, though, asserted its mastery of Alas with Tran Thi Thanh Thuy and Nguyen Thi Bich Tuyen doing the damage anew.
Nations Cup MVP Tuyen delivered 19 points off 16 kills, two blocks, and an ace, while Thuy also dubbed as T4 had 16 points.
Alas erased an 11-18 deficit in the second set as Van Sickle’s through the block attack and Palomata’s ace cut it down to two, 19-21, only for the host to regroup and take a two-set lead off Tran Thi Thanh Thuy and Vo Thi Kim Thoa’s finishing touches.
Vietnam broke a 15-all deadlock in the third and pulled away, 20-16. Alleiah Malaluan scored twice to trim the lead to 22-19, but Thoa again came up clutch to seal Vietnam’s second straight win in Pool A.
Alas seeks to bounce back against Sichuan of China on Monday at 5:30 p.m.
The Philippines held an 18-16 lead in the opening set off Van Sickle’s block only for Vietnam to steal the momentum and draw first blood with a 9-2 run.
