AVC Women's Cup: Alas Pilipinas routs Kyrgyzstan to bounce back

The Alas Pilipinas Women returned to their winning ways in emphatic fashion after blowing out winless Kyrgyzstan, 25-9, 25-11, 25-17, in the 2026 AVC Women's Cup on Monday in Candon City.

Thea Gagate and Jovelyn Gonzaga led the balanced attack as the hosts rebounded from their five-set loss to Australia on Sunday, improving to 2-1 in Pool A while Kyrgyzstan slipped to a 0-3 record.

Gagate posted 11 points anchored on eight attacks, two blocks, and one ace while Gonzaga churned out 10 markers. Other veterans Alyssa Valdez and Ces Molina also contributed nine and eight points apiece as Alas tighten its grip on the second spot behind leader South Korea (2-0).

World no. 48 Alas Pilipinas, which absorbed a narrow loss to Australia after a winning start over Uzbekistan, raced to a 15-6 lead in the opening frame when four-time UAAP Best Middle Blocker Niña Ytang unloaded a kill. The Filipinas then closed out Set 1 with a 10-3 run.

Gonzaga sent Alas to a huge 20-7 cushion in Set 2 before Molina and youngster Cla Loresco took turns to deliver the last two points as Alas took a commanding 2-0 lead over Kyrgyzstan.

Alas unleashed a 7-0 start to get the third set going before setter Kyle Negrito served an ace to extend the lead to 18-9. Alyssa Solomon buried one from the opposite side to stretch the gap to 10, 22-12, while an attack error from Gulmira Tulenova clinched the match point for Alas, 24-16.

Loresca delivered the winning point off a quick kill, which Kyrgyzstan challenged via a ball-in/ball-out review, but video replay confirmed that the ball touched the opponent’s court.

Alas next test comes on Tuesday against the undefeated South Korea at 3 p.m.

—Bea Micaller/JMB, GMA News