Alas Women fall to Chinese Taipei to finish 4th in VTV Cup

Alas Pilipinas made a gallant third set comeback, but ultimately fell to Chinese Taipei in straight sets, 25-17, 26-24, 25-22, in their battle for third in the VTV Cup on Saturday.

The Filipinas will settle for fourth place, improving from a last-place finish last year when a young National University represented the country.

After dropping the first two sets, Alas put up a better fight in the third frame with Eya Laure tying things up at 19–all after soaring from the back row and getting the touch.

An attack error from Chinese Taipei then gave the Philippines a slim 20-19 lead beforr MJ Phillips completed a running attack that made it a 22-21 cushion for the Filipinas.

Intensity flared up when the Philippine side was given a yellow card warning following a successful challenge made by Chinese Taipei, which allowed the opposing camp to regain a 23–22 advantage.

They unleashed a kill from the opposite side to clinch the match point then sealed the sweep victory after Vanie Gandler went wide on her attack.

Alas wrapped up a gallant campaign, which saw them defeating both China’s Sichuan Wuliangchun and Australia to finish second in the preliminaries.

In the playoffs, Alas sent EST Cola of Thailand packiing before bowing to defending champion Korabelka in the semifinals.

—JKC, GMA Integrated News