On a day symbolic of freedom and national pride, Alas Pilipinas unleashed a fearless performance that redefined redemption.
The Philippine women’s volleyball team stunned Kazakhstan with a resounding straight-sets victory — 25-21, 25-15, 25-19 — to punch their ticket to the semifinals of the 2025 AVC Challenge Cup for Women on Thursday in Vietnam. The win came exactly a year after Kazakhstan ended the Filipinas’ title hopes in the 2024 semifinals — a loss that still stings.
This time, Alas Pilipinas was the team delivering the heartbreak.
“We knew this was our chance,” said Bella Belen, who erupted for 16 points, including a third-set scoring spree that buried Kazakhstan’s hopes of a comeback. “The ball is round, so anything can happen — but we came in ready, and we made it happen.”
Belen, known for her composure and explosive offense, teamed up with longtime NU teammate Alyssa Solomon to lead the charge in the high-stakes showdown. From the opening serve, the Philippines looked like a team on a mission — sharper, quicker, and more aggressive than the Kazakhs.
The stakes couldn’t have been higher. A loss would’ve knocked Alas out of semifinal contention after a gut-wrenching five-set defeat to Iran earlier in the tournament. Instead, the team turned adversity into fuel and came out swinging with renewed fire.
“Everyone knew the importance of this match,” head coach Jorge Souza de Brito said. “We weren’t just playing to win. We were playing to prove we belong at the top.”
The victory marked a significant turning point in the Philippines’ volleyball resurgence. Not only did it avenge last year’s painful exit, but it also came on Independence Day — giving Filipino fans double the reason to celebrate.
Now sitting atop Pool B, Alas Pilipinas enters the semifinals not just with momentum, but with the confidence of a squad that has shaken off its past and rewritten its narrative. No longer content with last year’s bronze medal finish, the team now has its eyes locked on gold.
“This time, we’re not just happy to be here,” said Belen. “We’re here to finish what we started.”
