Alas Pilipinas made a strong statement in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup after sweeping New Zealand, 25-17, 25-21, 25-18, on Wednesday, June 11, in Hanoi to improve their semifinal hopes.

The win came at a crucial time for the Philippines, which bounced back sharply from a five-set loss to Iran just two days earlier. The one-day break in between gave the team time to regroup, reset, and execute a clinical performance that underscored their focus and composure.

De Guzman: Every win or loss is a lesson

Team captain Jia de Guzman, orchestrating with veteran poise, emphasized the team’s learning mindset.
“After our loss to Iran, we weren’t sad,” said de Guzman. “We knew what we needed to improve and we learned from it.”

The renewed energy was evident as the team showcased sharp offense and strong floor defense throughout the straight-sets win.

Gandler, Laure, Solomon shine in bounce-back victory

Vanie Gandler and Eya Laure led the charge with 12 points apiece, while Alyssa Solomon made a strong return after missing the Iran match due to an ankle injury, contributing 11 points. The result improved the Philippines’ record to 3-1 in Pool B, tied with Iran and behind undefeated Kazakhstan (4-0).

“We came here not just to play, but to win and play well,” said head coach Jorge Edson Souza de Brito. “Winning while learning—that’s the best outcome.”

Tough test against Kazakhstan next

Alas Pilipinas faces its biggest challenge yet when it battles tournament leader Kazakhstan (4-0) on Thursday at 11 a.m. (Manila time). Kazakhstan has been dominant, most recently beating Indonesia in straight sets.

With the top two teams in each pool advancing to the semifinals, the clash with Kazakhstan will be pivotal in determining the Philippines’ fate in the AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup.