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Alas Pilipinas Falls Short In Five-Set Heartbreaker Against Iran At AVC Nations Cup
Photo credit: PVL
Alas Pilipinas Women’s volleyball team faced their first setback in the 2025 AVC Challenge Cup for Women, bowing to a resilient and still-undefeated Iran squad in a nail-biting five-set match, 25-16, 21-25, 26-24, 23-25, 13-15, on Monday at the Doang Anh Gymnasium in Hanoi, Vietnam.
The loss puts the Philippines at 2-1 in Pool B—good for third place—but with only the top two teams advancing to the semifinals, the pressure is now on. Every match from here on out will be crucial in the race to the next round.
It was a rollercoaster of emotions in the deciding fifth set. After trailing 5-8, Alas Pilipinas fought back with Shaina Nitura and Angel Canino leading a spirited 6-1 rally to grab an 11-9 edge. Dell Palomata followed it up with a quick hit, and Vanie Gandler came off the bench to serve up a clutch ace, putting the Filipinas two points away from victory.
But Iran refused to fold. Fatemeh Khalili’s crosscourt attack gave them a lifeline, followed by a timely block from Zahra Salehi that evened the score at 13-all. A Canino error handed Iran match point, and though a centerline fault on Nitura was overturned upon challenge, it only delayed the inevitable. Salehi’s final block on Canino sealed the win for Iran after a grueling two-hour and 37-minute duel.
Canino led the Philippines with 20 points, showing her all-around skill with 17 attacks, two blocks, and an ace. Eya Laure backed her up with 16 points and 14 digs, though she sat out the fifth set. Palomata added 10 markers, while Fifi Sharma chipped in eight.
Despite the valiant effort, errors proved costly. The Philippines committed 32 unforced errors, while Iran had 36 of their own. Iran now stands tied with defending champion Kazakhstan atop the group at 3-0.
Khalili starred for Iran with a game-high 21 points, while Masoumeh Masi and Salehi provided steady support with 16 and 12 points, respectively.
Alas Pilipinas gets a breather before returning to action against New Zealand on Wednesday at 4 p.m. With the semifinals still within reach, the Filipinas will be aiming to regroup and bounce back strong.
The loss puts the Philippines at 2-1 in Pool B—good for third place—but with only the top two teams advancing to the semifinals, the pressure is now on. Every match from here on out will be crucial in the race to the next round.
It was a rollercoaster of emotions in the deciding fifth set. After trailing 5-8, Alas Pilipinas fought back with Shaina Nitura and Angel Canino leading a spirited 6-1 rally to grab an 11-9 edge. Dell Palomata followed it up with a quick hit, and Vanie Gandler came off the bench to serve up a clutch ace, putting the Filipinas two points away from victory.
But Iran refused to fold. Fatemeh Khalili’s crosscourt attack gave them a lifeline, followed by a timely block from Zahra Salehi that evened the score at 13-all. A Canino error handed Iran match point, and though a centerline fault on Nitura was overturned upon challenge, it only delayed the inevitable. Salehi’s final block on Canino sealed the win for Iran after a grueling two-hour and 37-minute duel.
Canino led the Philippines with 20 points, showing her all-around skill with 17 attacks, two blocks, and an ace. Eya Laure backed her up with 16 points and 14 digs, though she sat out the fifth set. Palomata added 10 markers, while Fifi Sharma chipped in eight.
Despite the valiant effort, errors proved costly. The Philippines committed 32 unforced errors, while Iran had 36 of their own. Iran now stands tied with defending champion Kazakhstan atop the group at 3-0.
Khalili starred for Iran with a game-high 21 points, while Masoumeh Masi and Salehi provided steady support with 16 and 12 points, respectively.
Alas Pilipinas gets a breather before returning to action against New Zealand on Wednesday at 4 p.m. With the semifinals still within reach, the Filipinas will be aiming to regroup and bounce back strong.
Jun 10, 2025
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