Alas Pilipinas claims silver in AVC Nations Cup

Alas Pilipinas secured a silver medal in the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Women's Volleyball Nations Cup, their first finals appearance in an Asian-level tournament in 64 years.

The Philippine team reached the finals after a five-set victory over Chinese Taipei but ultimately fell to the defending champions Vietnam in straight sets (25-15, 25-17, 25-14).

This silver medal marks the program's first runner-up finish since the 1997 Southeast Asian Games and is a significant achievement for the team established last year.

Team captain Jia De Guzman stated that the silver medal "means everything" and will inspire them to continue bringing honor to Philippine volleyball, expressing surprise at their performance.

Three Alas Pilipinas players received individual awards: Jia de Guzman (Best Setter), Dell Palomata (Best Middle Blocker), and Angel Canino (Best Outside Hitter).

The team's success propelled them to world No. 46 in the FIVB rankings, an increase from their previous ranking of 56th, with PNVF President Ramon "Tats" Suzara noting the Alas program's effectiveness.

Alas Pilipinas' strong performance has sent a statement to regional competitors, indicating they are moving towards challenging established powers, a sentiment echoed by Vietnamese coach Nguyen Tuan Kiet who sees them as a serious contender.