Alas Pilipinas Misses Podium Finish as Chinese Taipei Clinches VTV Cup Bronze

Alas Pilipinas Women ended their 2025 VTV International Women’s Volleyball Cup campaign with a tough loss, as a determined Chinese Taipei squad pulled off a straight-sets sweep, 25-17, 26-24, 25-22, in the bronze medal match on Saturday, July 5, in Phu Tho, Vietnam.

Hoping to replicate their semifinal victory over Chinese Taipei in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup last month, the Filipinas couldn’t overcome a sluggish start. Despite the efforts of Brooke Van Sickle and Eya Laure, Alas Pilipinas dropped the opening frame, as Chinese Taipei took early control and never looked back.

The second set saw a spirited comeback from the Nationals, who erased a 22-19 deficit with a 4-0 run powered by Van Sickle, giving the Philippines a brief 23-22 lead. However, Chinese Taipei responded with back-to-back points from Lin Liang-Tai to reach set point, 24-23. Van Sickle tied it at 24-all, but Chang Yi-Chi answered with a down-the-line kill, and Yeh Yu-Wen sealed the set by blocking Vanie Gandler for a 2-0 lead.

The third set was just as tightly contested. After trailing 18-15, the Alas Women clawed back to take a slim 22-21 advantage following a quick attack from MJ Phillips. But critical errors down the stretch—including a service miscue from Van Sickle and an attack error from Gandler—allowed Chinese Taipei to close the match with a 4-0 run, ending the Philippines’ podium hopes.

WATCH: Alas Pilipinas vs. Chinese Taipei (July 5, 2025) Game Highlights

With the loss, Alas Pilipinas finishes fourth, while Chinese Taipei secures the bronze medal. The Philippines’ last podium finish in the VTV Cup remains the Choco Mucho Flying Titans’ bronze medal run in 2023. Meanwhile, NU Lady Bulldogs, the 2024 national team, ended at the bottom of the standings with no wins.

Alas Pilipinas now turns its focus to the upcoming SEA V.League, with Vietnam hosting the first leg and Thailand set to stage the second leg in August—part of the team’s continued buildup for the Southeast Asian Games.