Alas Pilipinas rebounded from a close opening-set defeat to turn back Indonesia in four sets, 22-25, 25-23, 25-13, 28-26, for its second consecutive win in the 2025 AVC Women’s Nations Cup, Sunday at the the Dong Anh Gymnasium in Hanoi, Vietnam.
After missing the team’s debut win against Mongolia yesterday, Alyssa Solomon returned to action. She tallied a team-high 17 points before exiting early in the fourth set due to a left ankle tweak she sustained during her approach for an attack.
Angel Canino, Bella Belen, Fifi Sharma, and Shaina Nitura — all from the bench — stepped up in Solomon’s absence in the fourth to help the Philippines hike its record to 2-0, tied with Kazakhstan at the top of Pool B with identical 2-0 records.
The Indonesians looked poised to drag the match into a heart-stopping fifth set, seizing a 25-24 lead after Angel Canino’s attack veered just wide.
But just when momentum seemed to shift, Mediol Stiovanny Yoku faltered, her attack landing long. Meanwhile, Canino rose once more, unleashing a blistering cross-court kill that sliced through the defense and catapulted Alas to a 26-25 advantage.
Canino, looking to seal the win, committed yet another costly attack error that knotted the score at 26-all — her second miscue in a crucial stretch.
But true to form, the former UAAP Rookie of the Year-MVP shook it off and made up for it in the very next play, rising above the blockers to deliver a clean hit. Moments later, Shaina Nitura stepped up and hammered the final blow with a resounding off-the-block finish to secure the hard-fought win.
After tallying 11 points as a starter in their opening-day win, Canino stepped it up a notch, coming off the bench to deliver 15 points on 11 attacks, three aces, and one block along with 12 excellent digs for the Philippines.
Also making valuable contributions off the bench were Belen, who finished with 12 points, eight excellent digs, and five excellent receptions; Sharma with six points; and Nitura with five markers, including the game-winning attack.
Alas struggled early but found its rhythm in the second frame, thanks to the spark provided by Canino and Belen off the bench. Trailing 21-23, the two UAAP MVPs combined for three crucial points in a 4-1 finishing kick that leveled the match at one set apiece.
From that point on, the Philippines were unstoppable. They breezed through the third set with a dominant performance against Indonesia before closing things out in a gritty, hard-fought fourth.
The Indonesians kept things close in nearly every department, but Alas’ height and commanding presence at the net made all the difference. The Philippines racked up 12 kill blocks compared to just two from the opposing side.
Alas Pilipinas will battle Iran tomorrow, Monday at 4:00 PM, in hopes of extending its winning streak to three games.
Ersandrina De Vega paced Indonesia, which fell to 0-2 in the tourney, with 22 points, all on attacks, laced with eight digs and 10 excellent receptions.
Meanwhile, Ajeng Viona Adelea tallied 21 markers
