Alas Pilipinas women celebrate a point during the AVC Nations Cup semifinals against Chinese Taipei. The Filipinos advanced to the final. –AVC PHOTO

HIGHLIGHTS: Alas Pilipinas vs Chinese Taipei AVC Nations Cup semifinals

MANILA, Philippines — For the first time in over six decades, the Philippine women’s volleyball team has reached the championship round in an Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) tournament.

Alas Pilipinas surpassed its historic bronze medal run last year as it weathered Chinese Taipei’s comeback, 25-17, 25-21, 18-25, 15-25, 15-12,  to advance to the AVC Women’s Nations Cup final on Friday night at Dong Anh Arena in Hanoi, Vietnam.

READ: Alas Pilipinas leaning on UAAP MVP trio in AVC medal chase

In the scary moments of the match when Alas blew a two-set lead, the Filipino Spikers found a stabilizer in Eya Laure as she delivered the big hits to restore order with a 10-7 start in the fifth set.

Laure, who played sparingly in the first four sets, lit the fire under the young Alas, rallying the players during one time out when Chinese Taipei cut it down to one and  shouting “One stop tayo (just one stop)!”

The University of Santo Tomas star took matters into her own hands and scored her ninth point — six from the fifth set — to help Philippines reach match point, 14-11, before Chang Yi-Chi saved one for Chinese Taipei.

Alas Pilipinas women celebrate a point during the AVC Nations Cup semifinals against Chinese Taipei. The Filipinos advanced to the final. –AVC PHOTO

Bella Belen nailed the game-winning spike to send the program to the Asian finals for the first time in dramatic fashion. It was initially called outside, but coach Jorge Souza De Brito called for a challenge where it showed that the ball hit the tip of the finger of Yeh Yuh-Wen.

Three-time UAAP MVP Belen led Alas charge with 15 points including four blocks and had 16 digs and 19 excellent receptions. Alyssa Solomon chipped in 12 points. Fifi Sharma had 10 points from five kills, three blocks, and two aces, while Laure and Angel Canino added nine each with captain Jia De Guzman providing leadership and the brilliant plays.

READ: Alas Pilipinas’ big upset is even bigger win for national program

Alas takes on two-time defending champion Vietnam, which eliminated Kazakhstan, 25-19, 19-25, 25-7, 25-16, earlier in the day to stay unbeaten in five games.

The Philippine women’s national volleyball team plays its first gold medal match since the 1997 Southeast Asian Games on Saturday. It is already guaranteed of the country’s best ever finish in any AVC tournament.

After taking a two-set spread, Alas lost steam as Chinese Taipei, led by Chen Chieh, mounted a 17-12 lead.

Rookie of the Year Shaina Nitura had her moment, sparking her team off the bench and keeping the Taiwanese within striking distance, 17-15. But Chen was nearly unstoppable, putting on the finishing touches to force a fourth set.

Chinese Taipei brought the momentum in the fourth with a dominating 22-11 spread off Tsai Yu-chun and Yeh Yu-Wen’s kills and never looked back to send Alas to the fifth set.

De Guzman led Alas to a dominant first set as she utilized the trio of Solomon, Canino, and Belen as well as Sharma to win the first two sets.

Alas asserted its mastery of Chinese Taipei, which it swept in its final pool stage game last year, 25-13, 25-21, 25-18, on its way to a group sweep and a historic third-place finish.

The Philippines finished the elimination round with a 4-1 record, recovering from a tough five-set meltdown to Iran on Monday before taking care of its must-win games against New Zealand and last year’s runner-up Kazakhstan, 25-21, 25-15, 25-19, on Thursday to top Pool B.

Chinese Taipei, which was led by Kingwhale coach Teng Yen-Min and setter Liao Yi-Jen, who both played in the PVL Invitationals 2022, will be facing Kazakhstan in the bronze medal match.

Chen powered the Taiwanese with 19 points off 17 kills and two blocks. Liu Shuang Ling had 17 points, while Chang scored 14.