Alas Pilipinas celebrates a point during a game against Indonesia at the AVC Women’s Nations Cup in Hanoi, Vietnam.–AVC PHOTO
SCHEDULE: Alas Pilipinas women at AVC Nations Cup in Vietnam
MANILA, Philippines — Alas Pilipinas found a formidable trio in Bella Belen, Alyssa Solomon, and Angel Canino to take down Indonesia, 22-25, 25-23, 25-13, 28-26, and stay unbeaten in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup on Sunday in Hanoi, Vietnam.
After dropping the opening set, the Philippines’ adjustment on fielding Belen and Canino to join Solomon and setter Jia De Guzman worked wonders en route to their second win in Pool B.
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Solomon, who didn’t play in the campaign-opening sweep of Mongolia less than 24 hours ago, topscored with 17 points off 10 kills, four blocks, and three aces, but she suffered from a left ankle sprain to start the fourth set.
Alas was pushed to the limits in the fourth set, but UAAP Rookie of the Year Shaina Nitura successfully filled in the big shoes of Solomon, nailing the crucial hits that prevented the Indonesians from forcing a fifth set including the game-winning attack to keep her team unbeaten in two games ahead of their next game against Iran on Monday at 4 p.m.
Canino, the reigning tournament Best Opposite Spiker, sustained her fine form matching Solomon’s offensive output with 17 points off 11 kills, three aces, and a block, while Belen also provided the spark off the bench with 12 points.
Belen will miss the 2025 PVL Rookie Draft slated later at 8 p.m. at Novotel. She is expected to be the top overall pick by Capital1.
With Indonesia looking to force a decider with a 20-18 lead, Nitura came to the rescue scoring off a floating ball and nailing an off speed that forced four touches from the other side to equalize the fourth set.
READ: Alas Pilipinas sweeps Mongolia in AVC Nations Cup opener
Alas reached match point off Fifi Sharma’s quick attack, only for Ersandrina Devega’s clutch attack and Canino’s attack error to send Indonesia at set point, 25-24,
Canino refused to play another set as she brought back the advantage on their side, 26-25, before committing another attack error. But she made up for her mistake with another match point advantage before Nitura scored her sixth and the team’s winning point.
Fifi Sharma and Dell Palomata scored seven and six points, respectively, and hosted the Philippines’ block party with a 10-0 disparity in kill blocks in the second and third sets to put the momentum on their side. Eya Laure and Vanie Gandler scored five points each.
Despite falling short in the opening set, Alas displayed resilience in the second, recovering from a lethargic 3-9 start and erasing Indonesia’s 23-21 lead.
Palomata ignited the Filipino Spikers’ four straight points with a big block before Bella Belen’s push that barely landed on the line was deemed as a challenge successful to tie the game at 23-all.
READ: Alas Pilipinas heads into AVC Nations Cup with higher expectations
Canino, who didn’t start, drilled a crucial ace for the set point, followed by Belen’s block to tie the game at one set apiece.
Alas carried the momentum in the third with a 6-1 start before Fifi Sharma stretched it to a 14-7 lead.
The World No.50 Philippines mounted an 11-point lead as Belen scored another block, 21-10, taking a 2-1 match advantage after Solomon’s set-clinching ace — the team’s fourth in the frame.
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Indonesia dropped to a 0-2 record despite the efforts of Devega and Ajeng Viona Adelea, who had 22 and 21 points, respectively.
