Eya Laure delivered a stellar performance to power Alas Pilipinas Women past Est Cola, 25-17, 25-21, 25-21, and into the semifinals of the 2025 VTV Women’s International Cup on Thursday evening at the Vinh Phuc Gymnasium in Vietnam.
Capitalizing on a one-day break, Laure and the Nationals came out refreshed and determined, securing a straight-sets victory that booked them a spot in the knockout semifinals.
They now aim to dethrone defending champions Korabelka of Russia in tomorrow’s 3:30 PM showdown.
The win over Thailand’s Under-21 women’s volleyball team not only propelled the Philippines into the Final Four but also guaranteed them at least a fourth-place finish — a significant improvement from National University’s last-place result in the 2024 edition of the tournament.
Est Cola mounted an early 13-10 lead in the third set, but Alas remained composed under pressure. A commanding 10-2 run — highlighted by a soft tip and an off-the-block kill from Vanie Gandler — gave the Filipinas a 20-15 advantage.
Maddie Madayag followed up with a crucial block, while Gandler added an ace.
Then Laure scored another off-the-block kill, and a service error by Vi Thi Yen Nhi sealed the sweep and the Nationals’ ticket to the semifinals.
Earlier in the second set, Thailand battled back from a 15-17 deficit to take a 19-18 lead. But Brooke Van Sickle and Laure responded with a quick 3-0 burst to swing the momentum back to the Philippines, 21-19.
Yen Nhi kept Est Cola within striking distance with back-to-back attacks to tie the set at 21-all. However, the Filipinas answered at just the right time, stringing together a decisive 4-0 run capped by a Laure service ace to grab a 2-0 set lead.
The opening frame was tightly contested early on, with both teams knotted at 13-all. But the Nationals broke the deadlock with an 8-0 surge — powered by five Van Sickle hits and three Est Cola miscues — to seize a commanding 21-13 advantage and draw first blood.
Gandler led Alas with 12 points on 11 attacks and one ace, while Van Sickle provided 10 points on seven attacks, two blocks, and one ace in only two sets played.
Also only playing two frames was Laure, who ended the day with nine points on seven attacks, while Dell Palomata chipped in eight points in the win.
More than just clinching a semifinal berth, the win also relegated Thailand to the classification phase for 5th to 8th place.
Moonjakham Nannphat paced Thailand with a game-high 14-point performance built on 13 attacks, while Nualwan Kwannaphat followed closely with 13 points on 11 attacks.
Est Cola will now face Australia tomorrow at 1:00 PM to begin their placement campaign.
