The Philippines continued its ascent in Asian volleyball, clinching a hard-fought five-set victory over Chinese-Taipei to secure a finals berth in the 2025 AVC Women’s Volleyball Nations Cup in Hanoi. The thrilling 25-17, 25-21, 18-25, 15-25, 15-12 win also catapulted Alas Pilipinas 10 places up the FIVB world rankings, from No. 56 to No. 46.

Held at the Dong Anh Arena, the semifinal triumph sets up a gold medal showdown against hosts and defending champions Vietnam at 9 p.m. (Manila time) on Saturday. The Filipinas have already beaten Mongolia, New Zealand, and Kazakhstan to reach this stage, showcasing the upward trajectory of the women’s national program.

Consistent progress under the PNVF

“This just proves that the program is working,” said Ramon “Tats” Suzara, president of the Philippine National Volleyball Federation (PNVF) and a key executive in both AVC and FIVB. Since the PNVF took charge in 2021, the national women’s team has made a dramatic rise—from No. 156 to No. 66 by 2023, and now sitting at No. 46 in 2025.

Last year, Alas Pilipinas captured the bronze at home in the same Nations Cup. A win against Vietnam could potentially push the team even higher in the rankings and end a 64-year drought for a gold medal at a continental-level tournament.

Belen, De Guzman lead the way

Bella Belen delivered a standout performance with a triple-double: 14 points, 19 receptions, and 16 digs. “No words can explain how much we wanted this game. We’re going to prepare hard—it’s in Vietnam,” Belen said, highlighting the team’s motivation heading into the final.

Jia de Guzman, last year’s best setter, acknowledged the toughness of their semifinal opponents. “We were up two sets, lost two, and still came back—that’s a test of character,” she said. “Credit to Chinese-Taipei for adjusting and giving us a good fight.”

Coach Jorge Souza De Brito, who has led the program for the last three years, praised his team’s composure. “We knew semifinals would be tough. But the girls knew they had one shot to reach the final—and they did it,” he said.

As the country braces for the final, De Guzman summed it up best: “Last year, our best brought us bronze. This time, we’re aiming higher—and no matter what, this is for the country.”